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i'^HNIJED STATES OF AMERICA.gii 



"BEHOLD HE GOETH 

BEFORE YOU" 

% pQ^ttil Of the PsJ^n 'gmA 



BY 

MAY FIELD McKEAN 



BOSTON 
JAMES H. EARLE, PUBLISHER 

178 WASHINGTON STREET 



1 



SECOND COPY. 



.m-1 5-<| 



52045 



Copyright 1895 

BV 

MARY FuELD McKEA^T 



Au Rights Reserved. 




TWO COPIES RECEIVED. 



2)eMcation 

TO 

THOSE FOLLOWERS OF THE CHRIST 

VTHO FEEL THAT THEY ARE BEING LED BY A WAY 

THAT THEY KNOW NOT, 

AND THROUGH PROVIDENCES THAT THEY CANNOT UNDERSTAND, 

THE RECITAL OF THIS BEAVTIFUL LEGEND 

IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED, 

WITH THE PRAYIii; TLJriT EAO! HEART "K K-'. THUS READS IT, 

MAY FIND IN IT THAT WHICH SHALL BE A 

COMFORT AND HELP AND STRENGTH FOR ALL FUTURE DAYS, 

KNOWING FULLY THAT 

1be (3oetb :fi5eforc ins 

ALSO TO THE SHORES OF ETERNAL LIFE. 



But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.- 

Matt. xxvi. 32. 

Behold He goetti before you into Galilee ; there shall you see 
bim: lo, I have told ^ou.- Matt, xxvui. 7. 



AUTHOR'S ^OTE. 



The following beautiful legend, interwoven in the 
pages of this volume, was told to Rev. Russell H. 
ConwelJ, while travelling in Jerusalem, in the year 
1868, by an old monk who was acting as his guide 
in the Holy Land. Some years afterward, when a 
pastor in Philadelphia, Mr. Conwell told it to the 
members of his congregation, of whom the present 
writer was one. He himself said of it : 

" It proved to me a most interesting tradition — a 
combination, no doubt, of fact and fancy, like many 
others which he related while showing us over those 
sacred fields. But this one was so new to me, and 
so permeated with the clearness of Gospel truth, 
that I tell it to you this evening as near as I can as 
it was told to me." 

To one of his hearers it seemed not only full of 
Gospel truth in the incidents of the Legend itself as 
he related it then, but also to afford opportunity for 
so much of beautiful thought connected with the 

7 



8 AUTHOR'S NOTE. 

life of our Lord, the Christ, that she has put it into 
the present form. 

Her first thought was to dedicate her effort to 
him — her former pastor, her always friend — who 
had thus brought the story from its far-off home, 
and made such a writing possible ; but her second 
(which resulted in her present dedication) she be- 
lieves will be more in accord with any wish he might 
express were he consulted, and in the prayer of which 
she feels sure he will most heartily join. 

If its perusal can make the loving care and provi- 
dence of the Master who " goeth before " all of His 
children, seem more real and precious to any heart, 
His name will be glorifted, and the author will feel 
that her service, humble though it is, has been 
accepted of Him whom she would follow. 

M. F. McK. 



"BEHOLD HE GOETH 

BEFORE YOU." 



A LEGEND. 



JERUSALEM, the city of the Jews— 
*^ The place of which Jehovah, God, had said, 
*' My name shall dwell there, I have chosen it 
That ye may bring your tithes and offerings, 
And pay your vows unto the living God ; ! — r"^ 
The city founded upon holy hills, f 
Hallowed by memories of sacred love ; 
City of palaces and temple courts 
And walls of massive strength ; city of priests, 
And priestly ritual, where altar fires 
Sent their continual incense heavenward ; 
City of learning, where the holy law 
Was taught within their schools by doctors 
great 

* Deut. xii II. 2 Chron. vii. 12. 
t Psa. Ixxviii. 68. Gen. xxii. 2. 



lo ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

And read each day in all their synagogues, 

With care punctillious ; city of pride, 

Though vassal under Rome — Jerusalem 

Had done her worst ! 

For when her Lord had come 

Unto His own, " His own received Him not." * 

With strange infatuation she was blind — f 

Blind with the love of petted wrongs and 

creeds ; 
While seeing letter of the law which kills ; 
Blind to the spirit which would make alive ; 
Blind with the stubborness that *' will not see," 
And, with deliberate choice, had cast Him 

forth, 
And, asking that a robber be released, 
Had crucified her King without the wall. 

Strange things had happened then. :j: Dark- 
ness of night 

Had settled o'er the land at noon's high hour ; 

The temple's veil, from top to bottom rent 

When no man's hand had touched its sacred 
fold; 

The solid earth had quaked, and e'en the 
graves 

* John 1. II. t Rom. xi. 25. X Matt, xxvii. 51-52. 



''BEHOLD HE GO ETH BEFORE YOUr ii 

Had given back their dead to life again. 
What wonder that a solemn awesome fear 
Grew in the hearts of men ? And that the 

ones 
Who had been counted bravest of them all 
Confessed a power beyond their mortal ken ? 

But these strange things were three days since, 

and now 
A stranger yet was rumored far and near ; 
'Twas said that He whom they had crucified — 
Over whose death they had rejoiced, as one 
Rid of a plague — had risen from the grave, 
And that His Spirit had been seen of men 
And had conversed with them ! 

And sure it was 
His grave was empty when they sought for 

Him, 
Though guarded well, by soldiers whose life- 
blood 
Could be demanded for a faithless watch ; 
And Roman seal, which it were death to break, 
Had been stamped there by the request of 
those 



12 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

Whose hatred of the conquering Imw had 

found 
At last its equal in their fear of Christ. 
But 'twas of no avail. The watch, the seal — 
Nay, thousand times their power, could not 

have kept 
The Master of all Life among the Dead ! 
From ages of eternity the word 
Had been decreed : ''Thou wilt not suffer now 
Thy Holy One to see corruption, Life 
Thou wilt reveal, and joy, for evermore" * 
So now, the short-lived victory of Death, 
Robbed henceforth of its sting, must yield 

again 
To Life's eternal sway ; conquered by Love f 
Made manifest from God, Author of Love. 

And so, 'twas noised about throughout the 

town, 
And In the village, that He had risen, 
And that His spirit walked abroad 'mong men. 

Then those who hated, those who crucified, 
And those who knew not, save from rumor's 
tale, 

* Psa. XV. lo, n. t I Cor. xv. 55, 57. 



'^BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 13 

Were sore afraid, and, trembling, shrank from 

sight, 
Starting at shadows, growing faint at sound 
Of voices once famiUar to their ear, 
Refusing to go forth where they might meet 
His Spirit, as some dread Avenger, come 
To visit on their heads their awful sin. 

But those who loved Him, and had followed 

Him 
In days of dark adversity and storm. 
Watched for His coming, and, with eager 

hearts, 
Prayed earnestly to see Him once again, 
Seeking the places that He once had loved, 
Hoping in some familiar spot to find 
Him whom they knew as living "■ Son of 

Man ; " 
Him whom their hearts confessed as "Son of 

God." 

To some He was revealed — His witnesses 
Upon the earth to tell the story o'er : 
(For naught of blessing does He give to us, 
Except that through it we may bless the 
world). 



14 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

But some lived on, nor knew their answered 
prayer, 

Because He came not as they thought He 
would, 

As some to-day turn from God's sweetest gifts, 

Because they see not through Love's dark dis- 
guise 

To know that Christ Himself is waiting there. 

Within the city wall, in the fair home 

Of John, the well-beloved — home now, as well 

Of Mary, gentle mother of our Lord — 

Were gathered, on an early Springtime eve 

A group of seven * men — disciples true 

Who long had followed Him,, sharing His lot. 

One day of favor, and the next of scorn ; 

Not understanding all His words and works — 

Dull, slow of heart, perhaps (let the first stone 

Of criticism now be cast by him 

Who hath no sin) needing oft the word 

Of patient warning from their Master's lips ; 

Yet true were they, and honest in their love, 

Striving with minds perplexed to pierce the 

mists 
Of man-made wisdom that had gathered long 

* John xxi. 2. 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 15 

Around the words and symbols of God's love, 
Distorting and obstructing the clear view 
He would have given, desiring all to know 
And do His will. 

Most earnestly these men 
Pondered events late past, and future plans : 
Much had they called to mind that now was 

clear 
Though all uncomprehended when their hearts 
Were filled with doubt and fear. And strange 

sweet joy 
Possessed their souls as each new evidence 
Was thus presented. So, they waited here, 
Striving yet more to know the blaster's will, 
Asking more light on what seemed now so dark. 

Then spoke the well-beloved John, and said : 
" Rememberest thou not these words of His 
While yet with us : ' Behold, wheii I am risen 
I go before you into Galilee, 
There shall ye see J\le ' ? - Let us rise and go 
Into the country that He loved so well — 
Up to the sea, made bless'd for evermore 
By memory of His gentle ministry." 

* Matt xx\i. 32. Mark xiv. 28. 



1 6 '' BEHOLD HE GOETH BEEORE VOW 

"• Yes — let us go — He may be waiting there, 
And we the blessing losing by delay. 
Arise — make haste — and let us go at once," 
Cried Peter, his impetuous heart aglow 
With the new hope of seeing him again. 

'' Nay," answered Andrew, more conservative, 
" Such haste would make but little speed. We 

need 
This night for preparation, and for rest. 
After our day of toil. The morning's sun 
Shall not be risen till we are on our way, 
Refreshed, and ready to endure the walk 
Up to our home — the Sea of Galilee — 
Thus would the Master counsel, were He here." 

'' I think He would," said James. " 'Come ye 

and rest ' " 
Was what He bade, that we might give full 

strength 
And vigor unimpaired to the new task 
That He would give. How kind He ever was. 
Remembering our frame and^ll our wants ! " 
And then Nathanael, in reflective mood : 
*' 'Tis strange we had forgot those words of 

His, 

* Mark vi. 31. 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEEORE YOU:' 17 

Spoken by His own lips before the day — 
That fatal day — when He was torn from us — 
By all that priestly hate and Roman scorn 
Could compass in the hour of darkness' power ; 
And brought to mind by words the w^omen 

said 
When first they learned that He had risen 

again — 
'Tis strange we should forget so long ! But 

now " 

'' And yet, 'tis ever thus that grief doth blind 
Our hearts to hope *' — 'Twas Thomas who thus 

spoke , 
Remembering his own experience. 
And in such haste he waited not to hear 
All that Nathanael would have said — *' But 

now — - 
Now that the bitter grief has passed in part — 
('Twill never wholly pass, until 'tis lost 
In a more perfect knowledge than we now 
Can guess, and all His plans for Israel 
Shall be revealed to us) — hope, slow, returnj. 
And brings this blessed message to our minds. 
Let us in haste our preparations make. 
Then seek our rest that we may be refreshed, 
2 



1 8 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

And start upon our journey's joyous way 
As soon as morning's light shall dawn again." 

Then eagerly they planned the route to take, 
And as they made provisions for the way 
They talked of Him whom they had loved so 

well ; 
Whom they had hoped would Israel redeem, 
And vindicate the power they felt belonged 
To them alone. 

Had Jiopcd? Again that hope 
Arose, as memory recalled His words: 
" I go before you into Galilee 
And ye shall see Me there." Would this be 

time '^ 
When He the kingdom would restore again 
To Israel — their hope so long deferred? 

And when their plans were laid, and all was 

done 
That could be done to-night, in readiness 
For morning's dawn, they laid them down to 

rest. 

* Acts I. 6. 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU:* 19 

And that same spring-time evening, the Christ 

With His new-risen body, in whose power 

It was to pass through bolted doors, and stand "^ 

At but a moment's notice by the side 

Of whom He would ; to whom distance could 

prove 
No barrier, and weariness of flesh, 
No hindrance ; who revealed Himself at will. 
Or stood invisible to those most near. 
Or walked, unrecognized by dearest friend ; 
The risen Christ \\\\o held the mysteries 
Of Life, and Death, and Heaven, within His 

grasp — 
First fruits of them that slept f who swayed 

e'en now 
The power that some time also shall be ours,:}: 
Because He wills it so, and will bestow 
The gifts Himself has conquered from the 

grave. 
On us who have been made alive through 

Him, — 
Jesus, the Christ, the risen Lord, now stood 
In very midst of them, and yet unseen, 
Unheard, His presence all unguessed by them, 

* Luke xxiv. 16, 36. t i Cor. xv. 20. X i John iii. 2. 



20 "BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU.'' 

He listened to their plans, and saw them make 
The preparations needful for the way, 
And smiled, and sighed, in but a single breath 
To hear their love, yet knew how selfish 

thoughts 
(Not theirs alone, but in their nation bred) 
Had blinded them, and led their hopes astray, 
Making them miss the great, grand truths of 

love 
To all mankind — not to a single race — 
And greatness measured by great services, 
Not by the world's esteem of pomp and power. 

How oft He'd told them that the way to life 
Led downward, first, through death ; ^ that 

honor came f 
Through self-forgetful service ; that the cross 
For them, His followers, as for Him, their 

Lord, 
Was the one road that led to victory, — \ 
How slow we are e'en yet to learn this truth ! 

Yet graciously He listened to their words. 
For v/ell he knew the weakness of the flesh, 

*Johnxii. 24. t Verse 26. $ John xii. 32. Matt. x. 38. 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 21 

And well He'd learned the kindness of their 

hearts 
Which struggled blindly, slowly, toward the 

Light, 
Yet gave not up the strife, though puzzled oft 
And often left in doubt. Not by His will — 
But that the mists of years of prejudice 
Must first be swept away ere they could see 
Their promised King, the Hope of Israel 
To be the Man of Sorrow, well acquaint 
With grief, despised, esteemed not, smit of 

God, 
Afflicted, wounded, bruised." Was He not 

called 
The Sun of Righteousness, + the glorious Star,;}: 
The Mighty One, § the Royal Prince of Peace, || 
The Glory of all Israel.*' Nay more. 
Of all the nations the Desired One ^ " 
In whom all the families of the earth Avere 

blessed ! + \ 
How could this strange thing be ? 
Still loved they Truth, 
(The Truth they saw in Living Words in Him), 

* Isaiah liii. t Mat. iv. 2. 

X Numb. xxiv. 17. § Isaiah be. 16. 

II Isaiah ix. 6. \ Isaiah xlv-i. 13 ; Luke ii. 32. 

** Hag. ii. 7. 1 1 Gen. xii. 3 ; Psa. IxxiL 17. 



2 2 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU:' 

And Still their love spake to His gentle heart 
Till e'en their failures seemed to whisper love. 

In silent benediction then He stretched 

His viewless hands (out) toward them as they 

talked, 
And planned and loved their Lord (so doth 

He yet, 
Perchance). And, with a whispered prayer to 

heaven 
He passed unseen, unheard, out to the street. 

Amid the jostling crowds He hurried on. 
Along the ways where His swift, willing feet 
Had borne Him oft to deeds of power and 

love ; 
Where He had walked unrecognized, a King, 
Full of sweet kingly presence which the 

world 
Knew not — (nor has it ever learned since then !) 
Along the very thoroughfares where once 
His childish feet approached the temple gate ; 
And when the years had fled, and He had 

reached 

To Man's estate — THE Man of all the world — 
He was led captive by the angry mob 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEEORE YOUr 23 

Who, in a frenzy of wild fear and rage, 
(Surely 'twas true : *' They knew not wdiat 

they did ! ") 
Demanded that a robber be released 
And He, their Lord, their King, be crucified! 

Out through the city's gate, on toward the 

North 
He took His silent way, unseen by those 
Who passed Him by, with minds preoccupied 
And hearts on earth intent. Perhaps 'tis so 
More often than we think. 

The valley, bright 
With spring-time's early verdure, not yet 

scorched 
By summer's withering heat, greeted the eyes 
Of Him whose love of nature's beauty knows 
No blunt of sin, but sees in every hill 
And tree and running stream and budding 

flower 
A pledge of love, straight from a Father's 

hand. 

Onward He glided, till the pathway turned 
Up toward Emmaus. There a field of grain, 



24 *' BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

Waving and gleaming in the westering sun, 
Bowed low each heavy head, as if to greet 
The Master of all Life. 

He paused to look 
Upon its green and graceful luxury. 
Then, gazing up to Heaven in silent prayer, 
He stretched His hands out toward the nod- 
ding stalks, 
And said, in voice whose tone of gentleness 
Yet bore command from God : 

" Ripen, yc blades ! 
Let every grain in all tJiis fruitful field 
Be dry and hard ivJien yonder sun shall set ! \ 

Then, on He glided, flitting down the road. 
And through the woodland's sweet and mossy 

shade 
Discerning everywhere His Father's love 
Written on every line of Nature's page. 
Yet seeing in the little groups that passed — 
The workmen on their earthly gains intent, 
The villagers who gossiped of the news, 
Even the children following their play — 
Wherever man was found, discovering there 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU^ 25 

The soul's deep need of God, and holy love, 
E'en though they recognized it not themselves. 

Near Emmaus, upon a hill-side's slope — • 
Not far it was from path which He had trod ^ 
With two of His disciples on their way 
Up to the village, while. Himself unknown 
To them, He had unfolded all the word, 
Written long years ago, but now fulfilled 
In Him, until their hearts did burn and glow 
With a new love's warm flame. Purer it was. 
And more intense, since more intelligent, 
And more like God's. But yet they knew 
Him not 

Until they had constrained Him to abide 
With them ; for in their earnest talk, the day 
Was now far spent, and night was near. 'Twas 

then. 
When He had yielded to their urgent words, 
And broken bread with them, that first they 

knew 
That they had talked with Jesus by the way, 
And learned these lessons straight from lips 

divine. 

* Luke xxiv. 13-32. 



26 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

Did He recall these scenes as now He walked 
Alone, along the old familiar way ? 

Near to the village, close beside the road. 
He saw a merchant, wearied by the heat 
And travel of the day, who, resting, lay 
In shade of spreading tree, near to a spring. 
Beneath his head, as pillow for his rest, 
Were bags of gold — the profits of his sales, 
Which had been prosp'rous in the city's mart 
Whither, for many days throughout the feast 
Which thronged its walls with wealth from far 

and near, 
He had been trading in the precious things 
Which all the year he had been gathering. 

Deep was the traveller's sleep, and as the Christ 
Paused for a moment by the crystal spring. 
And stooped to quaff of its refreshing stream, 
The dreamer heard no step, and felt no hand 
Untie the bags of gold, and let the coins, 
Shining and precious, scatter through the 

grass 
And leaves which formed his pleasant wayside 

couch. 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUy 27 

When it was done, the Christ stood still, erect, 
And looked upon the sleeper there, whose rest 
Was still unbroken. Pity filled His voice 
And made its quivering accents half a sigh 
As low He said : 

'' Ah soul, thou know'st I bade 
Thee give unto the poor — and thou didst not ! 
Hadst thou obeyed my word, thou wouldst 

have known 
Earth's utmost blessedness in the sweet joy 
Of an abundant portion shared with God 
As Partner in thy life ; for he who gives 
Unto the poor, lends to the Lord,' '^ and he 
Who shuts his heart and hands against their 

cry 
Shuts out God's blessing from his life, and robs 
Himself of joy.f 

Yet not so does he shut 
God's providence away. My needy ones 
Are ever in the world. They may not take 
What thou withhold — that would be sin as dark 
As thine — yet /, thy God, and theirs 
Have right to take what I commanded thee 
Thus to bestow : what never was thine own 
Except to hold in trust. 

* Prov. xix. 17., xxviii. 27. t Prov. xi. 24, 26. 



28 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE VOH." 

I have not wronged 
Thee of thy right of gold, yet thou hast wronged 
Thyself of a supreme and Godlike joy — 
For he who gives the most from out his life 
Is likest to his Maker — Him Who gave 
Thee life itself. And thou hast taken now 

A loss. Thou wilt suppose it loss of gold, 

Poor, foolish man ! Already in thine eyes 

The world and all therein is good or ill 

As it can be converted into coin 

To swell thy hoarded treasure ! Thou art blind 

Because thou wouldst not see what part was 

mine ! 
Didst think that thou couldst live thy life alone, 
Apart from God ? apart from mortal men 
Except as they contribute to thy gain ? 
But in reality thy loss will he 
Not sJ lining gold — /'/ Jias already been, 
In Godlike character, in hope, in love, 
In joy, in opportunity for good 
In all that goes to make the best in man ! " 

Then, as He turned away. His bosom heaved. 
And something very like a sob escaped 
Those gentle lips divine — but not for self — 



BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 29 

'Twas at the thought of how the bhnding sin 
' Of covetousness ' gainst which He oft had 

warned 
His true disciples and His followers, 
Creeps with insidious power into the heart 
And steals life's sweetness ere we are aware 

On to the village, then, with noiseless tread 
He glided, till He stood beside the door 
Of cottage lowly, where the voice of prayer 
Arrested Him, and held Him listening there. 
For never yet was breathed a prayer in vain ; 
If from the heart it comes, it reaches Him, 
No matter what its want or language is. 

As now He listened, all His tender heart 
Was moved with a compassion never known 
To man. Closer He drew to hear the cry ; 
Even the door fast-shut no barrier proved ; 
And as the humble suppliant bent low 
Before the throne of grace, above him leaned 
The pitying Saviour, though he knew it not 

'' O Lord ! he prayed, '' 'Tis only work I seek. 
Thou'st given me health and strength. Now 
send, I pray, 



30 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEEOKE YOU:' 

The Opportunity to earn my bread 

For daily need, by honest, helpful toil ! 

I thank Thee, Lord, for all Thy blessings 

past ; 
But leave me not alone. I cannot live 
Without Thee, Lord! Hear Thou my prayer! 

Send work, 
Send honest, helpful toil that I may live, 
A blessing, not a burden, on the earth " 

He saw not yet the Heavenly visitant. 
But a strange peace within his bosom stole, 
And Faith's sweet voice assured him that his 

prayer 
Had been both heard and answered in God's 

plan ; 
For God doth answer prayer in many ways, 
And oft 'tis done ere yet it is revealed 
By sight to us. He knoweth best Avhen we 
Will be prepared to take the good He sends, 
And know He sent it. All too soon would 

we 
Become forgetful of our God, and take 
His richest gifts in silent thanklessness. 
If all were dropped like sunshine on our lives 
Without the asking, ere we knew our need. 



''BEHOLD HE GO ETH BEFORE YOUy 31 

With that strange, sweet assurance in his 

heart 
Faith's whisper that his prayer was heard and 

owned, 
The suppHant rose, and, supperless, 
Alone, and yet not lonely, sought his couch, 
And as the evening shadows gathered 'round 
Lay down to sweet and dreamless sleep, whose 

strength 
Should needed be upon the morrow's dawn, 
To do the w^ork that he felt sure would come 
In answer to his earnest trustful prayer. 

Noiseless and viewless as the Master came 
He went again out from the cottage door. 
His eyes shone with a look of gentle love. 
And all His face was radiant with a smile 
Whose secret thought was tenderness and 

help. 
Yes, He had heard, and He would soon relieve 
The want of him who trusted in God's care ! 

Close to the step, without, He saw a tree — 
An apricot of young and vigorous growth, 
Whose careful tending showed its owner's 
love ; 



32 '' BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOW 

Its bud was promise of a fruitage full, 
Which must have been a joy to that sad heart. 
Its presence seemed more bright because it 

stood 
Alone a thing of beauty, where all else 
Was blighted by the breath of poverty. 

But Jesus seized it with a powerful grasp, 
And, twisting it, as if it were a twig. 
Crushed it to earth, and left it broken there! 
Was this the anszver to that prayer of faith ? 

Then, on He passed, as shades of night grew 

deep. 
And, as He moved, a curious glow of light 
Seemed flitting over valley, hill and field. 

As He approached near Shechem, to His ear 
Again was borne the voice of suppliant prayer. 
It was a widow's home from whence it came, 
And straightway Jesus entered as she prayed, 
For ever is He drawing nigh to those 
W^ho first draw nigh to Him in faith and love."^ 

A little child, the widow's only son — 
Lay, dying, there; His wan, pinched face up 
turned 

* James iv. 8. 



-BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 'z>2> 

Seemed white, as if it were already kissed 
By God's mysterious messenger, whose name 
On earth is known as DEATH. Perhaps in 

Heaven, 
When partings here are lost in meetings there, 
And human loneliness is all forgot 
In the sweet presence of our Living Lord, 
And fullness of a joy we had not guessed 
While here below we stayed, will have re- 
vealed 
The meaning of Life's solemn mysteries. 
With all its sorrows, all its cares and pain ; 
And of this other mystery, when white 
And still, and unresponsive lies the form 
We loved before us — tJicn, perhaps, in Heaven 
We will re-name him LovE, and call him 
Friend. 

Beside the bed, the widowed mother knelt, 
And prayed as only widowed mother-love 
Can pray, pleading in agony of heart 
That God would spare her son — her only son. 

'' Send to me now Thy holy Prophet, Lord ! 
Let Him of Nazareth pass by this way, 
And let Him touch my child that he may live. 
3 



34 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU." 

Now, in mine hour of sorrow, wilt Thou not 
Direct His steps to us, that He may bring 
The blessings which e'er follow Him from 
Thee." 



For, in her lonely home, as she had kept 
Vigil beside her loved, she had not heard 
Of all that had been done by wicked hands 
Unto the Lord of Life ; nor yet how He 
Had gained the last grand victory, and led 
Captivity a captive by His power. 
Breaking forever Death's cold, cruel sway, 
Himself the first-fruits of a life renewed 
Whose full maturity should be in Heaven 
In presence. of the Self-Existent One. 

She knew not this — she only thought of Him 
As some great Jewish Rabbi, full of love, ^ 
Teaching a wondrous doctrine, whose import 
As yet was scarcely understood by men 
Who talked of king and kingdom with a zeal 
Like that of olden times, before the power 
Of heathen nations had subdued their land. 
'Twas certain He possessed a kingly might 
Direct from God, which He could use at will. 
Till many a time and oft had rumor come 



BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU: 



35 



Of how, by word or touch, He had made 

whole 
The bHnd, the lame, the sick. Aye, more than 

that 
Her neighbor, just beyond the hill, at Nain, 
Had mourned the loss of son already dead 
And on the way to burial, when He 
The Rabbi Jesus, met the funeral train, 
And with command which none could disobey. 
Had stopped the mournful cortege even then, 
And bade her cease to weep. And coming 

close 
Had touched the bier, and said '' Young Man, 

Arise ! '' 
And lo ! the dead arose, and straightway 

spoke. 
Given back to life and mother-love again. 
To be her comfort through declining years. 

Could not the power which brought to life the 

dead 
Restore Jier child, now wasted by disease ? 
Would not the love in sweet compassion 

moved 
By sight of lonely sorrow for the dead 
Evoke in Jier behalf that gracious word 



36 '^ BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

And touch of friendly healing, could He see 
And know her loneliness and sorrow now ? 
Ah, surely ! So with faith and love she prayed : 

'' Send to me now thy holy Prophet, Lord ! 
Let Him of Nazareth pass by this way ! 
If He but touch my son, the power He holds 
From Thee, will health and joyous life restore. 
Oh, gracious Lord, hear Thou the mother's 

prayer ! 
Restore my son to me, oh, send me help, 
And I will dedicate to Thee, My Lord, 
All that I am, or have, to be Thine own ! " 

Beside that kneeling form the Saviour stood, 
His face with love and pity all aglow 
i\nd yet she saw Him not. 

Quickly He bent 
Low o'er the fevered childish face, upturned, 
And softly kissed his lips, his cheek, his brow ; 
Then, holding out His hands — those sacred 

hands. 
Still scarred by wounds He had received that 

day 
When Death had done its worst and yet had 

been 



^'BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 37 

Completely vanquished by the conqueror, Life, 
Stretching them forth in benediction sweet 
Above the praying mother bending there, 
(Knows earth or Heaven a sight more beauti- 
ful?) 
One moment paused He, as she asked of God 
The granting of her earnest, trustful prayer. 
And then He vanished in the night again. 

The mother rose. The assurance of a faith 
So strong and sweet had come into her heart 
That there was now no room for doubt or fear. 
Little she knew of how her prayer had made 
Her humble cottage shelter for the Guest 
Whose home is Heaven, and whose name is 

Love. 
Little we know, I ween, how oft our prayers 
Bring heavenly visitants to earth, and make 
The spot whereon we stand as holy ground. 

But this she knew : The face of him she 

watched 
Had lost its look of pain, and in his eyes 
There gleamed the light of knowledge once 

again. 



38 ^^ BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU:' 

" Mother," he said, '' Give me some water, 

please ; 
I'm better now. I've had a lovely dream ! 
I thought that God was here — here in this 

room 
And that He kissed me — oh, so tenderly, 
And smiled upon me, while you prayed for me. 
It was a beauteous smile. I think the years 
Of all my life will be more pure and true 
Because of that sweet, sacred memory. 
The room seemed filled with glory for a time ; 
Did you not see it, mother, while you knelt ? 
Now it has gone, I wish it might have stayed : 
It was not like that olden glory bright 
We're told of in the holy Book of Law, 
From which men hid their faces as in fear — 
It was as bright and beautiful, and yet 
I did not feel afraid ; a gentle peace 
And perfect safety seemed its elements ; 
And I am stronger now, I feel just here, 
The glad assurance that I shall be well 
And strong again ere long." 

The mother smiled : 
" That was a pretty dream, my precious one. 
And I have prayed for you. I asked that God 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE VOH." 39 

Would send His Holy Prophet unto us — 
The Rabbi Jesus — He who heals the sick, 
And makes the blind to see, the lame to walk, 
And all the sad ones to rejoice again. 
You know we heard how, when He came to 

Nain, 
He raised the widow's son to life again, 
E'en though he were already dead, 
And now I feel that God has heard my prayer. 

And soon 
I hope to see this wondrous Son of Man 
(For so He called Himself, and surely He 
Is truest, noblest man the world has seen). 
Or, it is said by some, His power is such 
That distance is no hindrance to His word — 
That He can heal whom He sees not. And so. 
Perhaps if He could know, He'd speak the 

word 
As when He healed the brave centurion's slave, 
And you would be restored, even as he. 
Yes, I have prayed, and now I will keep 

watch 
For Him to come, or for some messenger 
By whom we may send word and make our 

want- 
Known to the One who never yet refused 



40 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

A prayer of humble faith. But rest you now 
And sleep, my boy ! I feel my prayer was 

heard 
And God will answer as He seeth best." 

The boy sank back to rest, and closed his eyes 
In sweet content. Ah, happy child, to know 
A mother's faith and love upholding him ! 
And low again the mother bent her head 
In sweet communion with the unseen God. 

Out in the night once more the hastening feet 
Of Jesus took their lonely way, still on 
Toward Galilee. 

Above, the beauteous stars 
Kept watch, and silence reigned o'er all the 

earth. 
It was the hour when souls attuned to Heaven 
Hold converse high with Heaven's holy King. 
What, then, to Jesus, holy Son of Man, 
And no less Son of God, Master of Life, 
And Victor over Death, the Well-Beloved 
In whom the Father's heart was pleased to 

rest, 
Who oft had passed long nights on njountain- 

tops 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 41 

Or in the desert plain, in prayer to Him — 
What, then, to Him, must be this holy hour? 

But now the voice of earthly grief and woe 
(Oh, how it follows all mankind, since sin 
Has marred the perfect image of Himself 
That God first made in clay ! ) fell on His ear, 
And smote His tender heart with instant pain — 
Pain such as common mortals never know : 
The pain of Love when the beloved one 
Endures some torturing grief ; the pain of 

Hope 
When long, so long deferred, the heart is sick ; 
The pain of perfect, God-like purity 
In presence of dark sin ; the pain which brought 
The Christ from Heaven to earth. Himself to 

find 
In pain we cannot fathom, cure for pain. - 

It was a pauper's hut by which He paused, 
And from within there came the sound of 

moans 
As one in hunger cried aloud for bread. 

Will Jesus, Son of God, Prince of high Heaven, 
On special errand bent — will He now stop 



42 



BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU: 



And turn His thoughts from that communion 

sweet 
Which had engrossed His soul, for beggar's 

groan ? 

Yea, even so. One moment stands He there 

To Hsten to that piteous cry for food, 

And then, with walking staff, He reaches up 

Among the cragged rocks above the path 

On which He walked, and, touching one, it 

came 
Rolling and thundering down — a great, huge 

stone 
Until it blocked the way beyond the door. 

It seemed a strange, unlikely thing to do, 
And not at all connected with the prayer 
That it was meant to answer. Yet we know 
His love can see beyond our present view 
And so can trust Him that the way He takes 
Is better than the one that we would choose 
If choice were ours. 

If choice were ours ? 'Tis well 
It is not ! We who see such little way 
Upon life's journey (and e'en that through 
tears 



^'BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 43 

Or smiles, or frowns, or loves, which blind our 

eyes) 
Could never know to choose the best for us. 
We thank Thee, Lord, that Thou dost choose 

for us ; 
We thank Thee that the choice is not our own ! 

The midnight hour drew near. The Traveller 
Still hastened on, till Nain was almost reached. 
Then, on the silent air was borne to Him 
The piteous bleating of a straying lamb : 
Poor, foolish lamb ! a silly wanderer 
That might have known the shepherd's tender- 

est care, 
Had it but been content to heed His voice, 
Instead of seeking in forbidden fields 
For pastures green which only secincth good. 

From far up 'mong the rocks of the steep hill 
Which bordered on that lonely path the cry 
Fell upon ears of pity infinite. 
And Jesus, Saviour of the world, the King 
Immanuel, stood still to hear. Again 
That piteous bleating sounded forth, as now 
The earth seemed hushed to listen. Then he 
turned 



44 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU:' 

And swiftly clambered up the dang'rous cliffs 
Till He could overlook the mountain-path 
He saw the wanderer, shivering and alone 
Caught near the edge of a dark precipice 
In briar bush that, while it seemed a bond 
Of cruel 'prisonment, yet safely kept 
The little foolish lamb from certain death. 

(Think you not, friend, that you and I, to-day 
Are sometimes held by that which seems a 

bond 
Of wrong or suffering, in love as kind 
As that which in this strange disguise we see 
Protecting it from dangers all unknown ?) 
A look of quick compassion overspread 
The Saviour's face, and in His gentle eye 
A pearly tear-drop glistened, and He said 
In voice of love which only heart divine 
Could know or understand : 

'' Poor little lamb ! 
Poor, wandering, shivering, foolish little lamb ! 
Thou hast strayed far, and suffered miicJi, but 

noiv 
Fvc heard thy piteous cries, and help shall 

eome I 
Wait, little lamb, until the morning s dazvn- 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 45 

/ will send help and rescue to thee then. 
Poor, foolish lamb ! — yet one My Father made, 
A nd every tiling He loved must have My care 
And that of My disciples. Wait, poor lamb ! " 

Close to the spot, between the craggy rocks 

Which jutted just above His sacred head 

There grew a large Azalia tree, whose bud 

Now bursting from its winter-fetters, stood, 

Perpetual mystery, perpetual sign 

Of life through death — God's resurrection love 

Written in lines infallible and clear 

O'er all the page of Nature — God's first book : 

Let him who will, but read and understand. 

Then, He who held within Himself the power 
Of life, full, sweet and free, Jesus, the Christ, 
Embodiment of God's own thought of all 
That is most pure and true and beautiful 
In human life, (for whom all lesser life 
Was made, symbol, and servant for his good) 
Put forth His hand, and touched the budding 

tree 
And straight it owned His power, and forthwith 

sprang 
Into full, perfect blossom, while the air 



46 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU.'' 

Of night grew heavy with the rich perfume 
Flung out from petals strangely beauteous. 

Then turning with swift skill, which no mis- 
step 
Or blunder made, He took His noiseless way, 
Among the rocks and crags and tangled briars^ 
Down to the path which He but late forsook, 
And onward went, passing with easy grace 
And an untiring swiftness on His way. 

It was toward* Nazareth that now He turned, 
While memories of other days possessed 
That high, sweet soul. 

Not less He loved, but more 
Than other men can love the scenes of home ; 
Not less His heart was stirred, but more than 

yours 
Or mine could be, as He revisited. 
Now in the solemn hush of night, the old 
Familiar places He had known of yore. 

Here He had played in boyhood's happy 

hours, 
And in the glee of childish innocence 
His heart, unburdened by a care or sin, 



''BEHOLD BE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 47 

Not realizing yet that heavy load 

That rested on the world — that load that since 

Had crushed and broken Him — had laughed 

and sung. 
As only children ever laugh and sing, 
Because they know not of this old world's 

pain. 

Tlicre was the synagogue where He had learned 
The word of love from out His Father's Book 
(Himself the Living Word from God to man), 
Revealed in Law and Prophecy and Psalm, 
Though many failed to see, or failed to heed 
Its meaning — clear to Him who sought to know 
And with a perfect heart to do God's will — 
Yet blotted o'er by man's obscuring creeds, 
Till it were easier to err than not. 
And here, where, as a Boy, He daily learned 
The law from out their sacred scrolls, attent 
With boyish interest in the scenes of school, 
Full of the joy and innocence of youth, 
Yet sharing not its sin ; here they refused 
To hear His voice, or to believe on Him."^ 
Because half knowledge — Satan's deadliest 
lie— 

*Mark vi. 3. 



48 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

Had blinded them until they would not see 
Heaven's Messenger in humble, human guise. 

Here was the shop where through the weary 

years 
He'd earned His daily bread as Carpenter — 
Here worked with plane and saw and hammer's 

stroke, 
Honoring God by simply making smooth, 
And true, and firm, and right, the work in 

hand ; 
(For Jioiv we do it, and not zvJiat we do 
Is made the basis of God's reckoning). 
While, as He worked, He pondered in His 

heart 
The mystery of His '' Father's business," 
Which He must be about throughout His 

life -— 
As much in preparation, here alone, 
As in the day of manifested power, 
When Nature owned His sway, Disease and 

Death 
Obeyed His word, and Heaven itself approved ! 

What of those silent years ? Had He not looked 

* Luke ii. 49. 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 49 

Out on the mars of sin, and longed to make 
The image whole again? Had not the days 
Seemed long that He must wait, till God's full 

time? 
Had not His soul within Him stirred to know, 
And yet to learn increasingly, that all 
Like sheep had gone astray, seeking their own 
And not the shepherd's care — seeing their los^ 
And hopeless 'wilderment, knowing Himself 
The Sent of God to call them to the fold 
Yet " waiting on the Lord " to learn His will ? 

O soul, with purpose high, doth sometimes 

feel 
Impelled to some great w^ork for the lost world, 
Yet held by providence to wait God's time ? 
Remember thou Christ's silent years ! And 

learn 
From Him the force of power gained from 

God 
Alone, before the hour for action comes. 
Wait on the Lord. Wait patiently, yet stand 
Ready for action when the time is full ! 
And now the Christ had reached the narrow 

street 
Which led up to the humble cottage home, 
4 



50 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

Where He had knelt beside His mother's knee 
And lisped His earliest prayer ; where He had 

played 
With brothers and with sisters 'round the door ; 
Where, as He grew to man's estate, He loved, 
And wept, and prayed, and waxed strong in 

the power 
Of knowledge of His holy Father, God. 
O memories ! O surging memories, 
Which swept across Him now, as once again 
He stood within the shadow of that home ! 

Above Him shone the same bright, distant 

stars. 
About Him each familiar spot w^as known; 
The very perfume from the early flowers 
Seemed like the greeting of an olden friend ; 
But oh ! the changes that had come since last 
He had beheld this scene ! 

His work was done — 
The Father's work which He had come to do 
On earth was finished now.'^ It mattered not 
(Save unto them) whether men scoffed or heard, 
The tragedy of His safe life was o'er : 

* John xvii. 4 ; xix. 30. 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEEORE YOUr 51 

Only the Father's House \\\ Heaven remained, 
And that He soon would gain. '' A little 

while " ^> 
And men should see Him not with earthly 

eyes. 
But from His home above, with cords of love 
So strong and true, He would draw unto Him f 
All that the Father gave, with not one lost. :j: 

About the old familiar place He walked, 
Unseen and silent in the solemn night, 
Till, coming to the store-house for the grain, 
He tore a slender board from ofT its side, 
And forthwith poured a flood of golden corn ! 

One moment still He stood to watch, and then, 
Leaving these scenes of early earthly home 
His journey He resumed, still toward the north. 
The hour was late ; but as He travelled on. 
Came memories- of that sweet wedding feast 
At Cana, where He had been honored Guest, 
And where He first His wondrous power dis- 
played, 
More to confirm the faith of those who late 
Had left their homes to follow (only) Him 

* John xm. 33. t John xii. 32. % John xvii. 12. 



52 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOW 

As His disciples on the way of life, 
Than e'en to do an act so kind for those 
Whose Guest He was — though that His gener- 
ous heart 
Prompted at once — and by a single word 
He made of water, pure, rich, luscious wine, 
Till all the many guests were well supplied.^" 

'Twas three long years since then, 
And much was crowded in His busy life, 
So full of cares for souls of suffering men ; 
So full of deeds of charity and love ; 
So full of pain that hearts were dull to heed 
The lessons He had come to teach from God. 

But Jesus never yet forgot a friend — 

He did not then — He does not now forget — 

And though the hour was late. He turned 

aside 
From road the nearest up to Galilee, 
And came again to Cana, there to find 
The home which once had bidden Him, its 

Guest. 

Swiftly He took His way until He stood 
Beside the cottage door. Within He saw 

* John ii. I, II. 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 53 

A light. Was some one ill that they should 

keep 
The candle burning till the wee, small hours 
Of waning night were here ? 

With quiet tread 
He stepped within the room, but saw no couch 
Of suffering there. Instead, in cradle near, 
A little child lay sleeping peacefully, 
Its tiny up-turned face, unvexed by care, 
Was wreathed in smiles, as if its baby dreams 
Had been of heavenly visitants, and love 
Had been the burden of their message sweet. 

Dear little face! If thou couldst keep that 

smile ! 
If thou couldst always hear such messages ! 
We need such hearts of innocence to draw 
Earth nearer Heaven — for up to that pearl gate 
A little child oft leads a wandering one. 

A smile of radiant beauty lit the face 
Of Jesus, as He looked upon that brow, 
So sweetly innocent, so full of trust ; 
And then a strange, unfathomable look 
Shone for a moment in His gentle eye, 
And a deep sigh that seemed almost a groan 



54 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

Upheaved His bosom in tumultuous thought. 
For straight there rose before His holy mind 
A vision of the possibilities 
Wrapped up within that tiny sleeping soul ! 
To what strange height of blissful, Godlike 

love 
It might soar upward ! What mysterious 

depths 
Of woe and suffering — sin's awful doom — 
Yawned in dark ambush, ready to ensnare 
Unthinking victims to their endless death ! 
Who, but the One whose .calm all-seeing eye 
Had searched the beauty of God's holy hill 
And pierced the gloom of everlasting night ; 
Whose soul had known the bliss of Sonship's 

tie, 
And had been crushed, heart-broken 'neath the 

weight 
Of all the world's imputed sin on Him 
Who knew no sin, till e'en the Father's face 
Had been withdrawn ; — Who but the One who 

came 
Because He knew the height of heavenly love 
And depth of woe to which a soul can sink, 
Could look with such commingled hope and 

fear 



BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU.' 



55 



On all the possibilities of life 
Wrapped in a tiny babe ? And who of us 
Could fathom to its depths the look with which 
He bent above that cradled sleeper there? 
But straight He turned from it, to those in 

want 
Of His more active sympathy and help : 
As He would have us, His disciples, turn 
From holiest reverie to deeds of love. 

There by the candle's glow. He saw those 

two — 
Husband and wife, whose happiness that day 
Three years ago could not have guessed this 

hour. 
In low, sad tones they talked, while sometimes 

tears 
Welled from her eyes, and fell unheeded down 
Over the cheek which care rather than age 
Had robbed of its fair grace of girlhood's 

bloom. 

" Our lot seems very hard. I cannot see 
Why we, who've ever striven to do right, 
And keep the law of God, should now be left 
To suffer as we do ! There's just one sheep 



56 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU:' 

Remaining of the flocks that once were ours. 
To-morrow we will kill, and eat — and then — 
When that is gone — there's nothing left for us, 
And for our babe, but hunger, want and death! " 

" Nay, wife, speak not such words. I know 

not why 
Our lot is thus, but surely God knows all ; 
And He has promised, if we trust in Him 
And do the good we can, we shall be fed, 
And I believe it, wife. We both have tried 
With earnest hearts and true to do His will. 
Now let us comfort take unto our souls : 
Sufficient to the day the evils are, 
And I believe, sufficient, too, the good. 
We've prayed to Him. I feel that He has 

heard 
And soon will answer in His own best way. 
Cheer up, good wife ! God's grace has never 

failed ; 
Though He may lead us where the way is dark, 
He will not quite forsake, but He will stand 
Close by us in the shadow, holding us 
By the right hand, as safe as if He led 
Through light. Cheer up ! I feel that help is 

near." 



'' BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 57 

The mother tried her best to look content — 
Not for herself she grieved : that she could 

bear 
But it was hard to look upon her child 
And know that to its tender life must come 
The pinching want of poverty. Could she 
But shield it she would gladly suffer twice ; 
But listening to her husband's cheering words 
She smiled e'en through her tears, and softly 

said : 

" Ah, if the Rabbi Jesus were but here ! — 
He who our wedding-feast supplied with wine — 
I know that He would find (or make) a way 
To help us in our sorrow. He was kind 
To all the poor, and help and strength and 

hope 
Seemed in the very atmosphere He breathed — 
I would that He were with us once again ! " 

" But I have heard," the husband quick 

replied, 
" This very day strange things concerning 

Him: 
'Tis said by those returning from the feast 
Just celebrated in Jerusalem 



c;8 '' BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU:' 

That He was there condemned by priest and 

scribe 
And by the Roman law sentenced to death 
As malefactor bold, and one who stirred 
Sedition 'mong the people of our race — 
Forbidding Caesar's right to tribute paid, 
And holding that Himself was Israel's King/' 

He paused in thought — not that his tale was 

done, 
But that his words so ill-befitted Him 
Of whom he spoke — the gentle loving Man 
Who, day by day, had trod their valleys o'er 
Seeking to do men good ; forgetting self 
In works and words for them; asking no 

power 
Earth could bestow ; seeking no selfish gain ; 
Even refusing to be crowned a king, 
When many would have taken Him by force 
And made Him such against His holy will, — 
That all His soul was stirred with a strange 

thrill 
Which kept Him silent for a little space. 

Then eagerly his wife took up his words : 
" Dost say this of the Rabbi Jesus ? He 



''BEHOLD HE GO ETH BEFORE YOU: 



59 



A malefactor proved ? He stirring up 
Seditions ? He false to any man ? He 
Sentenced by law to death for being King ? 
Nay ! but it cannot be ! Thy words are wild ! 
He seemed not such to me — He is not sucJl ! 
Else could I not have stood close by His side, 
And touched His hand, and looked into His 

face, 
('Twas the divinest face I ever saw, 
And made one think of Heaven and heavenly 

joys) 
And listened to His words of tenderest Love 
And Hope and Truth and Justice unto all. 
And not have known Him false ! 

'' For I can feel 
Here in my heart the presence of untruth 
Ere yet a word is said. An influence 
More subtle than the subtlest sense of earth 
('Tis not of earth — it is a relic rare 
Of that sweet image when Jehovah said : 
' Let us make Man after our likeness true ') 
Speaks to the heart of her who lives near 

Heaven 
And oft communes with God, giving her 

powder 
Thus to discern the good, the high, the true — 



6o ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

Or to recoil, in knowledge which asks not 
For proof or reason, from a life impure ! 
Therefore I say, thy words are wild. 'Tis not 
Within the range of possibility 
That that true Man — the Rabbi Jesus — be 
The malefactor that thou paintest Him ! 
Who sayest it, saith false ! 

'' Yet I had hoped 
That God through Him had sent again His 

power 
Now to redeem us from the galling bonds 
That long have held us, though we be indeed 
His chosen people, nation of His love ! " 

" But, listen, wife ! The strangest part of all 
I have not told thee yet ! They also say 
That three days after He was crucified, 
His grave was found by those who sought Him 

there 
To embalm His body for its final rest. 
Open and empty, with the grave-clothes laid 
In folded order where He late had been. 
Some think His body had been stolen thence 
By His disciples who had come at night — 
Though there was seal and watch to guard the 

place." 



^'BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 6i 

" If that were so, 'tis strange they left the 

clothes — 
And such neat order scarce betokens haste, 
E'en if they dared to brave a Roman watch ! " 
She interrupted with her woman's thought. 

'' But some declare that He was raised, alive, 
By the same power through which He others 

raised. 
And that He did raise others we well know, 
For we ourselves have seen the widow's son 
Who dwelt at Nain,^^ and know that story true 
Which says that he was dead, yet lives again. 
Nor can we doubt the truth of those who say 
That one Jairusf had a daughter fair 
Given back to life and love and home again. 
Though she were dead and friends were mourn- 
ing her. 
And, stranger yet, (I heard but yesterday 
This news from those who came back from the 

feast), 
A man who had been four days dead,:}: He raised 
By but a single word. 'Twas one He loved — 
But He was absent when they buried him. 
Yet when He came, He asked to see the grave, 

*Lukevii. II. t Mark v. 22. + John xi. 39, 44. 



62 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

And bade them roll away the sealing stone. 
At first they say He wept. Then looking up 
Even through tears, He prayed. Then gave 

command 
* Come for til ! ' And straightway he who had 

been dead 
Heard that sweet voice, and answering it, 

arose. 
Restored and well ! 

Then were the populace 
Divided in their thought ; for some believed 
That He was very Christ, the Sent of God. 
But others said, Not so, and from that hour 
Sought how they might betray Him to His 

death. 
And so, to-day, some say that He was raised 
By that same power which showed forth in His 

life 
Healing disease, and conquering death itself. 



" And truly, there seems proof of this ; for 

those 
Whose word can scarce be doubted, testify 
To having seen Him in the flesh since then. 
And there are those who even yet have hope 



^^ BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 63 

That now He will restore to Israel 

The kingdom in its olden power and pride. 

" I have an awesome feeling that the Man 
Was all, and more than all He claimed — a 

King, 
But not of earth — perhaps the Christ of God! 
The very air seems full of mystery. 
I fear our nation has done wrong in this, 
And that this sin will yet be visited 
Upon our heads — I know not how or when." 

" 'Tis very strange ! I would we knew the 

truth ! 
My heart Is ready now to own Him King, 
And from your words as well as from my 

heart 
I am assured that He was more than man! 
I would that He were here this very night : 
He was so kind that ilaught seemed small to 

Him. 
And such His power and such His love to men 
That He would pause 'midst all these move- 
ments great 
To find a remedy for just our wants — 
For they are life to us ! I would we knew 



64 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

What is the truth ! " she said with gentle sigh. 
Then Jesus turned from them, and quickly 

passed 
Out through the bolted door into the night. 

Beside the threshold stood a boiling pot 
Such as was used to try the fat of lambs. 
Quickly He raised His staff, and thrust it 

through, 
Piercing its iron bottom with a hole 
So round and smooth one scarce would notice 

it- 
Then turned, and quickly vanished in the dark. 

O'er hill and vale He crossed, until He came 
Just to the entrance of a dangerous pass. 
A tree which grew beside the road, He grasped 
And plucked it up as if it were a twig, 
And planted firmly in the trodden path ! 

He turned abruptly from the thoroughfare — 
The old Arbella Road which straightest led 
On to the city of Capernaum — 
And took His silent way over the hill 
And, though the path was rough and hard to 
climb 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE VOC/." 65 

He rested not till from its summit, green 
With Spring-time's freshening grace, He turned 

His face 
Straight toward the sweet blue sea of Galilee 
Just as the sun, proud ruler of the day, 
Sent forth his brightening marshals of the dawn 
In steady forward march of his advance, 
To warn the world that night-watch now was 

o'er. 
And waken it to life and lio-ht ag^ain. 

o o 

How like the sea is man ! When the winds 

blow 
And storms disturb its bosom, and the waves 
Roll boisterously across its troubled face. 
We see the water — nothing more than this. 
But when it lies, calmly and quietly 
Beneath the silent heavens, its surface still. 
Unmoved by wind or storm, we see, 'tis true, 
But scarcely heed itself, for mirrored clear 
In its calm surface is the arch above — 
The sun, or moon and stars, and each fair cloud 
Reflected beauteously. 

So with the heart : 
When 'tis disturbed by doubts, and fears, and 

cares, 

5 



66 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEEORE YOW 

And the annoyances and storms of earth, 
We see itself in its humanity, 
Troubled and restless, like the ceaseless wave ; 
But when it lies at rest beneath the smile 
Of heaven — rest learned of Christ — rest undis- 
turbed. 
And peace, because the mind is fixed on God — 
'Tis then it can reflect in beauty clear 
The light Christ brought down from the throne 

above. 
It is in such a soul that we can see 
Not the poor, restless tossings of humanity 
But the divinity of God's impress 
Upon the quiet heart that trusts in Him. 

O beauteous sea ! O glorious morning hour ! 
The Saviour's hastening feet stayed at the 

sight 
That gently broke upon His vision then : 

The lake, in peaceful calmness, lay impearled 
By dawning light within its setting rare 
Of sandy, wave-washed beach, and emerald hills 
Just outlined 'gainst the morning's reddening 

sky, 
And once again the mem'ries crowd His heart ! 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEEORE YOU." 67 

How much of life, with all that living meant 
To such an One, had here been freely given 
To those who understood it not, nor sought 
To know it in its highest Godlike sense ; 
But, for the most part were content with such 
Of earthly good as they could make accord 
With their traditions and their narrow views 
Of favor unto Israel alone ! 

Yet some there were who loved Him — some 

who sought 
To know and do His will. And memory 
Recalled them now, as He stood still and 

watched 
The growing brightness of the morn's sweet 

dawn. 

Nearest to Him lay Magdala, the town 
Which once had shelter proved when sorely 

pressed 
By those who sought for earthly benefits,^ 
Yet understood not all the joy and life 
That He had come to bring to hungry men: 
The native town of her who much forgiven 
Loved much, and ministered with gratitude 

* Matt. XV. 39. 



68 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

Which thought no labor hardship if for Him.'^' 
Just northward, in that miniature bay, 
Was where he taught the people from a boat f 
Which rode upon the waves, the while they sat 
Tier upon tier, upon the rising shore. 
Nor wearied of the gracious words that fell 
From lips that spake as never man before ; 
And then X departing " as he He was," for rest 
He lay upon the boatman's pillow there 
And slept, after that day of weary toil, 
Until the storm arose upon the sea. 
And He was wakened half reproachfully 
To speak the billows into quietness. 
And calm the troubled fears of timid hearts 
Who had not learned how safe we are with 
Him ! 

'Twas in that city yonder that He lived 

As one ''at home " § through months of weary 

toil: 
There had He healed the multitude of those 

* Luke viii. 23. The phraseology here used is not intended to confirm the 
old tradition that the nameless woman who anointed the feet of Jesus 
in the house of Simon the Pharisee (Luke vii. 36-50) is identical with 
Mary of Magdala (Luke viii. 2), for which the author finds no sufficient 
foundation. It is believed, however, that the language applied to one (\ii. 
47) can be equally applied to the other (viii. 2). 

t Mark iv. i. X Mark iv. 35-41. § Mark ii. i, Revised Version. Marginal 
rendering. 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEEORE YOUr 69 

Who came from far and near "^ (or who were 

brought, 
Too ill to come themselves) — the blind, the 

lame, 
The halt, the palsied ones, who could but look 
Their prayers, even the lepers, from whose 

touch 
He drew not back, since He Himself could 

cleanse 
The deeper stain of sin, at which the law 
But hinted when it said '"Unclean! Unclean!''\ 
Faith made them clean ! And gladly He 

restored 
The outcasts to the joys of home and love. 

Here was the " desert place " to which He bade 
His followers come and " rest a while.":}; 'Twas 

when 
They had returned from preaching in the towns 
And villages of Galilee ; and now. 
Elate with their success, yet wearied sore 
From kbor that had called for best of heart 
And head and nerve and manly strength ; and 

grieved, 

* Mark i. 32-34 ; ii. 3, etc. ; vi. 55, 56. t Lev. xiii. 3, etc. 

X Mark vi. 31., and connection. 



70 



BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 



Hurt with an inward pain, at news they bore 
Of John's beheading ; while the passing throng 
Disturbed and interrupted them, He said : 
" Come ye yourselves apart and rest aw^hile." 
And as they rested, telling Him their griefs 
And triumphs and perplexities. He taught 
Their hearts new lessons of His grace, as 

still 
He teaches those who learn the busy cares 
That oft perplex, and " rest awhile " wdth Him. 

Yonder, near where the upper Jordan flows 
Into the widening lake, upon that slope 
Of grassy verdure there, had been the scene 
Of loaves and fishes quickly multiplied.'^ 
Until the gathered throng — five thousand 

men, 
Beside the women and the children too — 
Had eaten all they would, and still had left 
Abundance for a future need. 

And then,f 
Mistaking means for end, looking at deeds, 
Not love that prompted them, thinking of self 
And selfish gain, uncomprehending yet 

* Mark vi. 35-44. t John vi. 15. 



'' BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 71 

And blind while thinking most they saw, and 

knew, 
They said with eager boldness each to each : 
" Surely this is that Prophet that should come, 
Let us now take Him, if it be by force 
And make Him King, to wield for us this 

power." 

How little yet they knew His mission high ! 
How little yet we guess its highest love, 
And all the glory He will yet reveal 
To those who love His name and live for Him ! 

And there, beyond, uprose the mountain steep 
Where He had gone to pray alone with God.^ 
Alone with one we love, and who loves us ; 
No curious eye to look upon our joy. 
ALONE ! no uncongenial presence near 
To mar the satisfaction of the hearts 
That rest in perfect confidence and love. 
There is no need of faltering lips to tell 
The dear, sweet secret of our lives, for then 
The subtler language of the heart may speak 
In soft, mute glance, more eloquent than 
words, 

* Matt. xiv. 23. 



73 



BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU. 



Or gentle pressure of a hand whose touch 
Recalls a hundred tender memories. 
Or in the unspoken sympathy of thought 
Which flies, swift and untrammelled to the 

heart, 
And so conveys a joy too deep for words. 
And which can only be interpreted 
By love as pure and holy as its own. 

'Tis by such love that we are lifted near 
To the great heart of Him whose Life is Love. 
Oh, earth may hold much, much of joy for us, 
In the sweet converse of the friends we meet 
And hail with gladness in the social hall ; 
And dearly do we prize the hour when 'round 
The hearthstone we can gather at the close 
Of the day's duties ; but more sacred still 
Is that sweet moment which we spend alone 
With the dear, faithful heart of one we love 
And rest upon, as on our truer self ! 

Alone -cvith God f My soul, attend this 

thought : 
Alone with God ! The careless world shut 

out, 
And the freed soul shut in w^ith God, alone. 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 73 

As with a Father, Friend, Creator, Lord, 
No jarring thought dares to intrude its power; 
No shadow of the world, but there, alone — 
The soul that loves, and God who loves the 

soul — 
Enter the closet of communion sweet. 
By that mysterious power which earthly love 
Keeps from the God-life once in Eden given, 
By which we know while yet unheralded 
The presence of some loved one — by that 

power 
Intensified, uplifted, purified, 
Freed from all dross of earthly contact, now 
With solemn joy we enter consciously 
Into the sacred presence of our God, 
In whom alone are met and satisfied 
The higher, nobler cravings of the soul 
Which, breathed from God, must rise to Him 

again. 
Yet never can we touch and feel the thrill 
Of His Almighty Presence in the soul 
Lifting our lives above the common dust. 
Striking new strings upon the harp of love 
Whose chords vibrate in thrilling harmony, 
Responsive to the Master hand divine. 
Until we have withdrawn from earthly scenes — 



74 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOW 

Leaving its cares, and e'en its sweetest loves — ■ 
Forgetting self — forgetting all save this : 
I am alone zvith God! Alone with Him 
Whom my soul loves ! Here let me rest a 

while 
In breathing the sweet strength His love can 

give 
In the communion only known to those 
Who go apart and talk ALONE WITH GOD ! 

If it be ours to know this sacred bliss 
Of secret prayer, who by adoption's tie 
Are made the sons of God, what, then, to Him, 
The Son, the Well-Beloved, the Holy One 
In whom He was well pleased, had been this 

hour 
Of sweet communion with His Father there 
In silence on the mountain-top alone ? 

Late grew the night watch, ^" till the wind and 

cold 
Beat 'round Him piteously. But not for self 
Did He forsake that mountain trysting-place : 
Not till He saw through storm and darkness 

drear 

* Mark. vi. 48. 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 75 

The need of His disciples, as they toiled 
In rowing, yet were like to sink. 'Twas then 
He walked upon the boisterous waves to them, 
And calmed the storm, and bade them not to 

fear, 
And proved to them His royal Kingship's 

power 
Extending over all created things. 
Reaching through Life, past Death itself, to 

Heaven. "^ 

And there, across the lake, sharply outlined 
Against the morning sky. He could discern 
The country of the Gadarenes, f whose men 
Preferred their swine to Him, and bade Him, 

'' Go, 
Depart from out their shores ! " And He had 

gone, 
Yet, with kind mercy, even to His foes, 
He bade the one whom He had healed, remain 
And tell the story of a Saviour's power. 

How little was He known or understood 
By those — His own — whom He had come to 
save ! 

* Matt. xiv. 33. t Luke viii. 26, 40. 



76 '^ BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOW 

How sadly must His gentle breast have 

throbbed 
As He looked on the hurts He would have 

healed, 
The wrongs He would have righted, and the 

sins 
He would have fain forgiven, and brought 

again 
The smile of God into their weary lives ! 
*' But they would not " ''^ — '' His own received 

Him not." f 
He was an Outcast from this sinful world 
Which He had come to save ! — Outcast by 

men, 
But, though unrecognized, uncrowned, a King 
Before whom every knee on earth shall bow X 
In sweet obedience, or in servile fear, • 

And every tongue confess that He is King. 

Thus, as He stood in early morning dawn. 
After the hours of lonely travelling, 
Swifter than words can tell recurred the scenes 
Which other days had witnessed by the Lake ; 
And for a little space He lingered there, 

* Matt, xxiii. 37, t John i, n. 

X Rom. xiv. II. 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 77 

Grieved for their loss, yet knowing well that 

God 
Who rules and overrules, makes e'en the wrath 
Of rebel man to praise His holy name. "^ 
And then He took His way down to the shore 
Whose sands so oft His sacred feet had trod. 

There, tossing on the sea He saw a boat — 
A fisher's boat, o'erturned and ownerless. 
Out on the unyielding waves He quickly 

walked, 
And drew it to the shore, and anchored it. 
Then, wandering on the beach. He found an 

oar 
And then another, and another still, 
And yet a fourth, tossed up by restless waves. 
Returning to the boat He left them there ; 
And as the sun burst o'er the eastern hills 
Flooding the valley with its radiant light. 
Kissing each ripple into molten gold, 
Changing each dewdrop to a diamond fair 
And decking all the earth in beauty new 
With every morn's return of welcoming day, 
The Saviour's noiseless footsteps turned aside 

* Psa. Ixxvi. 10. 



78 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOW 

Seeking the well-known mountain trysting 

place. 
Where oft He had retired, to pray alone 
And spend tliJs day in holy speech with God. 

Thus had He gone before them all the way, 
Which they must take to follow His command. 



PART II. 



BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr Z\ 



PART II. 



r\^ that same morn that Jesus reached the 
^-^ sea. 

After His night of travel all the way 
Which led up from Jerusalem, the home 
Of John, disciple well-beloved and true, 
Was early made astir by busy men 
Preparing for their journey they had planned 
To Galilee, where soon they hoped to meet 
The Master whom they loved 

Little they knew 
That He had stood, invisible to them, 
Within these very walls but yester eve, 
And listened to their plans, and heard them 

tell 
Of all their love to Him, and all their hope. 

6 



82 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU:' 

*Tis often so to-day. We think of Christ 

As in some far-off land of bhssful rest, 

When He is close beside us, hearing all 

We even think ; and planning for our good ; 

Going the way before us on the road 

Of life ; knowing, before we know ourselves, 

The path that we will take, and all the scenes 

Which lie between to-day and that glad time 

When we shall meet Him on the further shore. 

" He is not far from any one of us, 

And we shall find Him if we seek, for Him." "^ 

Nay more, this is His precious word : 

" In Him that hath my words and keepeth them 

I will abide, and though the world sees not. 

He sees, because He lives, and I will come 

And manifest myself to Him in love."f 

'Tis full a two days' journey to the sea 
As these must travel o'er the weary way 
(For not to them is given th' untiring speed 
With which their Master glided o'er the path, 

His feet scarce touching it, save where He 

willed) 
And so they start betimes, and well supplied 

* Acts x\-ii. 27. t John xiv. 18-23. 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr ^2> 

With meal, and fish, and oil, and staves, and 

cloaks, 
For all the way's necessities. 

And thus 
We see this company of burdened men 
Set forth at solemn hour of morn's gray dawn 
Along the narrow streets, where busy life 
Was scarcely yet astir. 

Silent they walked 
As each familiar form brought to their minds 
The strange contrasting scenes — one day of 

praise 
And loud hosannas and of waving palms 
As from a thousand throats arose the cry : 
*' Blessed is He that cometh in the name 
Of Israel's God ! All praise to David's Son ! 
Hosannah in the highest ! In Heaven peace 
And glory evermore ! Blessed be the King ! " "^ 



And then, when five short days had passed, 

these streets 
Were filled again, but now the cry arose, 
" We have no king but Caesar ! If thou let 
This man to go thou art not Caesar's friend ! "f 
And Pilate had delivered Him to them 

Luke xix. 38, and paraletta t John xix. 12, 15. 



84 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEEORE YOUr 

To do with Him according to their wilL 

And these, His followers — what could they do 

Against that raging insurrections mob? 

So 'twas not strange that they walked silently 

Along these old familiar streets to-day, 

Saluting none until the gate was reached. 

Then, down the valley's slope, on toward the 

plain 
Their hastening footsteps stay not on the 

w^ay, 
As if escaped from some oppressing power — 
That subtle influence, like an atmosphere 
Which tells of love or hate in those about — 

(And it was hate within those city walls 
Hatred for Christ and all his followers) 
Felt in the heart, and yet scarce recognized 
Save now in its withdrawal. 

Free from this, 
And safely past the scenes whose presence 

brought 
Afresh the memories of their Master's cross, 
They strode along in early morning dawn. 
And took in full, sweet breaths of God's pure 

air, 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 85 

The while their souls were lifted to commune 
With Him, as well befitted time and place. 
Did John, who had drunk deeply at Love's 

fount,^ 
And fair Nathanael, who was given to thought 
And meditation upon holy themes,t 
Then draw together by a common bond, 
And question of these mysteries of God ? 
What meant this dawning after hours of night ? 

What meant this spring-time after winter's 

death ? 
Were they not Nature's teaching to the soul 
Telling the truth the Christ had now revealed 
Of resurrection power — life after death — 
Nay, more than that — of life because of death ? 
We see it now ; but did they see it then ? 

Down in the plain they saw a field of grain, 
Yellow and hard and ripe before its time. 
And as they looked upon a sight so strange. 
And marvelled much, the owner called to them : 

'' Stay travellers, stay ! My field of waving 

grain, 
Which yesterday stood green and nodding here, 

* John's entire writings. t John i, 47-50- 



86 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

Has ripened suddenly within a night, 
And I must haste to harvest it to-day. 
Come now, I pray, and help me gather it 
Into my barns. The work is pressing sore, 
And I will pay large wages for thy toil ! " 

But the disciples turned not from their course. 

*' We cannot tarry now," they said, " We go 

On errand so important and so sweet 

That double wages have no charm for us. 

But if we find a laborer free to serve 

We will remember thee, and send him hence." 

Then, on they strode, till the ascending sun, 
Made them to long for shelter and for rest, 
And water pure, where they might slake their 

thirst 
And cool their brows, and wash their dusty 

feet 
In crystal spring — one of God's sweetest gifts 
Which He bestows so freely that we take 
Its bounty from His hand, but seldom pause 
To thank Him for the priceless boon, which 

love, 
With foresight of our human wants, provides. 
Seldom we pause even to think how much 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 87 

We owe to it, until we feel its need 
As these did now, though bravely struggling 
on. 

Near where the path branched off to Emmaus 
They found a fountain clear, close to a rock 
Within whose shade welled up the crystal tide 
Whose onward flow, first as a tiny stream. 
Cross which a child could step with perfect 

ease, 
Increased until a dancing, babbling brook 
Refreshed and gladdened all the weary land. 

" Here let us stop a while and rest ! " they cried ; 
And letting down their burdens, each one 

sought 
After his own device, refreshment there. 

James, stooping down to drink, lifted the cool 

Sweet limpid water to his thirsty lips 

In hand-made cup, with brimming rim o'er- 

run 
And, as he lingered still, to dash the spray 
Of grateful cleansing to his dusty brow, 
And watch the sunlight turn each falling drop 
Into a gem, he saw close to his knee, 



88 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

Half covered from his sight among the grass 
And rusthng leaves, a shining disk of gold ! 
" See what I've found ! " he cried. " Some 

traveller 
Has here sought rest before us, and has lost 
This golden coin ! " 

"" Here is another one ! " said John. 
Close by his side. 

'' And here are more — and more," 
They, eager, cried, as search among the grass 
Revealed the hidden treasure lying there. 

'' Now we can cast aside our load of meal. 
And oil, and fish — these things which burden 

us. 
And make our journey slow and wearisome. 
For we have now the gold to pay our way ! " 
Said the impetuous Peter, eagerly. 

'' Not so ! " cried Andrew, as he laid a hand 
Upon his brother's arm. " Dost thou forget 
So soon, the lessons that our Master taught. 
Of frugal care and wise economy ? 
Think of the fragments that we gathered up ! "^ 
Those days His grace had multiplied the loaves 
And fishes till \vc had abundant store 

■ John vi. 12. Mark vi. 43 ; viii. 8. 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU:' 89 

For all who would partake. He is not pleased 
With needless waste, when all about, are poor 
And hungry ones who starve for want of bread. 
We may not need this food ourselves, but who 
Can tell where there may be a child of God 
Whose want He now has given us the means 
In His dear name to meet and satisfy?" 

'' Perhaps you're right ! For I remember well 
How He did say to us : * Ye have received 
Of me most freely — freely give in turn ; '^ 
And at another time ' It is more bless'd 
To give than to receive. 't And this : ' The 

poor 
Ye have with you at all times ; Whensoe'er 
Ye will, ye may do good to them. 'J Perhaps 
He sent this gold to us that we may know 
The blessedness of giving to His poor ! " 
Thus urged they took their burdens up again. 
And hasted on their way up toward the north. 

But not far had they travelled when they saw 
Beside a cottage-door close to the road, 
A man who seemed intent on binding fast 
A broken tree. It was an apricot 

* Matt. X. 8. t Acts xx. 35. % Mark xiv 7. 



go ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

Whose boughs, so lately full of promises 
Of fruitful harvest, withered hung and dry. 
Nor tried to lift their hopeless heads again. 

'' 'Tis hard luck, strangers ! " said the cottager, 

As the disciples paused to lend a hand 

And show how best to bind the wounded tree, 

'' I am alone and poor, and but last night 

I prayed the God of Heaven to think on me 

And send me toil wherewith to earn my bread, 

And as I prayed I felt an holy peace 

Steal in my heart, as if his messenger 

Had whispered sweet assurance that my prayer 

Was heard in Heaven, and would be granted 

me. 
And as I laid me down to quiet sleep 
I thoupiht to rise this morn, refreshed for toil 
That He would send. 

But tJiis is what I find — 
The only tree I owned, broken and bent. 
And this year's fruit at least completely lost, 
Now when I needed it the most of all ! 
Almost have I lost faith and hope in prayer ; 
For why should God deal thus with one who 

serves 
And fain would earn an honest livelihood ? " 



"BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 91 

" Nay, say not so ! " ('Twas John who cried in 

haste) 
" Doubt n6t God's mercy or His wisdom thus. 
But know that what seems ill in His own time 
May prove the greatest good — Nay, more, must 

prove 
If we are truly serving Him ! 

I w^ould 
Thou couldst have heard the words our Master 

said 
(He who is called — and is — the Son of God — 
Though Rabbi Jesus w^as His earthly name), 
Upon that last sad night before He went 
From us. Never will we forget that night. 
Or all the precious, holy words He spoke, 
Thoup-h at the time we understood them 

not, "^ 
Nor do we understand them fully now ; 
But as we ponder them in loving hearts. 
And talk them o'er, as one by one we call 
To memory the things which mystified 
And troubled us, because we did not know 
All that was written, and should come to pass. 
To-day we see the meaning clear of much f 
Hid from us then because we had not faith 

* John xii. 16. t John xiv. 29. 



92 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

To reach beyond our timid human sight ; 

But much is mystery still : only we know 

He spake in tender, loving tones to us 

(Who are His followers, though faithless oft — 

Not the defenders bold we should have been) 

And said : " Ask what ye will, if in My name,^ 

And for My sake it shall be given you. 

And thus your joy shall be fulfilled in me. 

Therefore we know the Father heareth prayer 

And answereth for Jesus' holy sake, 

E'en though the good shall come to us in 

guise 
Which hides from us at first its mission true." 

*' Of tJiat we are the living witnesses 

To-day ! " Nathanael said. '' For that same 

night 
Our Master said to us. ' I will not leave 
You comfortless.' f To that word our hearts 

clung 
With the tenacity of hopeless love ; 
But much He said to impress upon our minds 
Our coming grief, and warn us of His death, 
And bid us look beyond the grave and see 
That He would rise again (As He Jias now). 

* John xiv. 14. t John xiv. 18. 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 93 

But this we heeded not, and when the power 
Of Satan held his temporary sway, 
We sat in dumb despair, and thought all lost. 
We said : ' What did He mean ? ' For He Jias 

left 
Us comfortless ! What comfort now for us 
When He in whom we trusted to redeem 
Our chosen nation, lieth cold in death 
Within the hopeless grave ? 

And it was not 
Until He, risen from the dead, revealed 
Himself, and called to mind those words, that 

we 
Could realize the blessing He had wrought 
In what to us seemed only hopeless loss.^ 
But now — His power proved — His Kingship 

owned — 
(By some — not yet by all — though it would 

seem 
All soon must own so wonderful a sign — 
Greater indeed than that for which they asked), 
We trust that now He will restore again 
The kingdom unto Israel. f Indeed, 
We go to meet Him now where He Him- 
self 

* Luke, xxiv. 45, 46. t Acts i. 6. 



94 BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

Hath made appointment that we follow Him. 
Seest thou not how He can swiftly bring 
Good out of that which at the first seems ill? 
And that He may be answering our need. 
Better than we can ask, when yet we know 
Not what the answer is, or how 'tis good ? '* 

'' Why, yes," said James. " Thou seest that 

to-day — 
Even this broken tree may answer be 
Unto thine earnest prayer of yester eve : 
'Twas but for that we paused upon our way, 
Although we haste up to the distant sea, 
As he hath told, to meet our risen Lord. 
But now that we have learned of thy sad 

plight 
We can direct thee to a harvest field 
Where extra wages will be paid for work 
Such as ye seek. 

'' 'Tis yonder — down the road 
Which leads from Emmaus up to the North 

Gate 
Of the fair city of Jerusalem ; 
We passed a farmer there, whose rolling fields 
Of golden wheat had ripened suddenly, 
And he wants men to harvest it to-day. 



'^ BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 95 

It may be that the loving will of God 
Directed us to thee, in this thine hour 
Of need. He has more ways of answering 

prayer 
Than thou and I can fathom now, my friend." 

'' It may be so. Thy words seem just and 

true. 
God may be answering when we know it not. 
I thank thee for thy help and for thy news 
Of honest toil. I will arise and seek 
The harvest field of early ripened grain." 

And so the poor man found the work he 

sought, 
And the disciples hasted on their way 
Up to the distant sea of Galilee. 

The sun had well-nigh reached his zenith 

height 
As they were nearing Shechem, and his beams, 
Burning as only Oriental suns can burn, 
Fell on the shadeless path, and on their heads, 
And seemed to close them in, as if escape 
From his o'ercoming power there could not be. 



96 '^ BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOW 

Vainly they looked for shelter on their way : 
Half-blinded by the dazzling light ; with blood 
Leaping at fever-heat through tired brains 
And arms that ached beneath their weary load, 
They bravely struggled on, with many a prayer 
Sent up to Heaven's Throne from hearts 

devout 
For sheltered rest, or strength to battle on. 

Then came a welcome sound — A woman's 

voice 
Made tender by its love, was calling them. 
" Strangers ! " she said. '^ Stay, weary travellers ! 
Art seeking rest and shelter ? Come this way ; 
But tell me first — for this I haste to know — 
Is the great Prophet, Jesus, one of thee? 
For it is He I seek. Last night I prayed 
That God would send Him to my humble 

home 
As once, in time agone, He came to Nain, 
That He might heal my child. For surely He 
Who spake the dead to life again, could now 
Restore at once my boy to joyous health. 
If He but spoke the word and looked on him. 
Therefore, since I have prayed, I've watched 

this path, 



''BEHOLD HE GO ETH BEFORE YOUr 97 

Hoping, expecting, soon to welcome Him. 
Tell me, Is Jesus here? " 

Then eagerly 
She scanned each sun-browned face, thoucfh 

pausing not 
In leading them straight to her humble home. 
So hid they scarcely would have found it there 
But for her watch and guidance to the spot. 

*' The Rabbi Jesus? Hast thou then not 

heard 
All the strange things that late have come to 

pass ?" 
They asked in solemn, awed bewilderment. 

'' ' Strange things ' ? I have not heard of them. 

For days 
I've w^atched beside my boy, and know naught 

else ; 
What has befallen Him? Tell me. I beg; 
Is my prayer vain? Can He not come to me, 
With that sweet healing power that once was 

His." 

'^ 'Tis a sad story — scarcely it seems true 
Even to us who've watched it day by day, 

7 



98 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU:' 

But we will tell it thee, that thou mayest 

know 
How that the leaders of our nation came 
Where He was wont to pray, and seizing Him, 
Tried Him' in their Sanhedrim court, and 

found 
Him guilty of blasphemous words, and deeds 
Destructive to the law (or so they said). 
Then straight they hurried Him to Pilate's 

hall. 
And though three times the Procurator said : 
' I find no fault at all in Him,' '^ and tried 
In feeble fashion to release Him thus. 
The mob, persuaded by their leaders' wills 
And frenzied by excitement till they knew 
Scarce what they asked, f called loudly for 

His death. % 
And he — the servile Roman Governor — 
Afraid of them, afraid as well of Rome, — 
Rather than brave the sentiment of those 
Who cried : ' Prove now if thou art • Caesar's 

friend ! ' § 
Weakly delivered Him,|| though innocent, 
To die upon the cruel Roman cross. 

* John xviii. 38; xix. 4, 6. t Luke xxiii. 34. % Matt xxvii. 23, etc. 
§ John xix. 12. II John xix. 6. 



''BE//OLJ^ HE GO E 77/ BEFORE YOUr 99 

" But three days scarce had passed when from 

the grave 
He rose triumphant, for not even death 
With all his powers could hold the Son of God ! 

*' Then we remembered how, when yet with us, 
He told us all the things which now w^ere 

done,"^^ 
And we have seen Him in Jerusalem, 
And He hath comforted our hearts with 

peace, f 

But now we go, as He appointed us, 
To Galilee, and He will meet us there, 
For thus He saith : ' Behold I go before, 
There shall ye see me, as I said to you. ' " \ 

While thus conversing they had reached her 

home, 
And she had set before them food and drink. 
And brought forth w^ater for their dusty feet : 
And she had pondered in her heart, the while, 
Now with a throb of wild despair, and now^ 
With thought of joyous hope, the tidings 



strange 



John xiv. 29. t John xx. 19. 21. % Matt, xxviii. 



lOO ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

They brought of the good Rabbi — Him for 

whom 
All through the day she'd strained her weary 

eyes, 
Scanning the pathway from Jerusalem, 
Believing He would come as she had prayed. 

But now, the Christ she'd seen in former days 
Would come no more, and He whom now they 

sought 
Had passed already by her humble home. 
No hope remained of seeing Him to-day; 
And if she should send word to Him by these 
Who soon would meet Him by fair Galilee, 
Who knows but press of cares would make Him 

late — 
Too late to save her only boy from death? 

Nay, she had not forgotten Nain. She knew 
That Death had met his conqueror ; 
But with a mother's love, and fear, and hope. 
How could she wait and see that lovely form 
Tortured by fever, yield at last to Death, 
E'en though she knew he would be given back 
When He — the Rabbi Jesus — should return ? 
For such her faith, not only in His power 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr loi 

But in His love and willingness to bless 
Those who but trust in Him, that in her heart 
No longer was a doubt that in the end 
Her son should live, restored to health again 
Could He but know her sorrow and her faith. 

'Tis true that since that quiet, restful sleep 
Of the last night, the fever burned less fierce, 
And much of pain had left his weakened 

frame, 
And he had known her when she spoke to 

him, 
And asked for water, and for food again ; 
Yes, he was better ; that was evident, — 
And yet she wished the Rabbi Jesus there 
To speak the word and make him strong again ; 
Longed for His presence and His sympathy. 
For none had ever come to Him in vain. 

Then, as she came and went ; now ministering 
With gentle hospitality to them. 
And now beside the bedside of her child. 
The wonder grew within her loving heart : 
Could not these men who were His followers, 
Who seemed to know the secrets of their Lord, 
To whom He had revealed Himself alive 



I02 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

After His cruel death by wicked men, 
Who, even now, by His appointed word 
Were on their way to meet Him — could not 

these 
Restore her child, as He would, were He here ? 

At least, she would make known her want to 

them — 
And so, when they were rested and refreshed, 
With all a mother's gentle arts she told 
Again the story of her need and prayer, 
And asked: ''Have ye not power, by Jesus 

given, 
To heal my son, and make him strong again ?" 

Then to the tiny darkened room they went, 
And knelt in prayer beside that humble couch, 
And asked that God, for Jesus' sake would give 
Youth's ruddy health in place of fever's hue, 
And native strength of boyhood's active years 
Instead of languor from his long disease ! 

And as they spoke, the blood grew rich and 

strong. 
And coursed through well-filled veins, from 

glowing heart 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 103 

Whose throb was firm and steady. Every 

nerve 
Forgot its jarring pain and sank to rest. 
The flaccid muscles knew their olden strength, 
While health with its mysterious influence 

thrilled 
His being's fibre to its inmost core. 

With what sweet rapture then the mother 

clasped 
Her child in loving arms ! How warm her thanks 
To Jesus' followers, who brought the boon 
She'd craved from God ! How high the note of 

praise 
As her glad heart made melody to Him 
Whoknoweth all our wants, and heareth prayer. 
And who more ready is to give, than we 
To ask for all the sweetest things in life ! 

" How glad I am that I was led to watch 
For the great Rabbi out along the way 
Up to the sea ! For, seeking Him, I found 
His faithful followers when needing rest 
And entertainment such as I could give ; 
Anci now my little deed of kindness proves 
Blessed for His dear sake ; while on my life 



I04 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

Ye have returned the kindness thousand-fold ! 
Long as I hve my heart shall follow thee, 
In grateful prayer, for mercy done this day. 
And when ye see the Master, tell Him how 
I sought for Him, and seeking Him found 

thee, 
And how thou wrought for me that which I 

prayed 
That He would do ; and how I blessed His name. 
' Tis well ! God knoweth best ! He answereth 

prayer 
As seemeth best to Him who knoweth all ! " 

The fervid heat of midday now had passed, 
And, leaving joy within the little home. 
They found new joys themselves in journeying 

on. 
Conversing by the way of words forgot 
By some of them till now — about a cup 
Of water only, given in His name 
To a disciple in an hour of need : 
'' It shall not lose" — it was the Master's voice 
Which spoke it — " shall not lose its own re- 
ward." '" 

*Matt, X. 42. Mark ix. 41. 



^^ BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 105 

Near Shechem, where the narrow pathway 

grew 
More narrow for their feet— on this side hedged 
By rising mountains steep, and on that side 
Sloping a-sudden to a deep ravine — 
They found their onward way completely 

barred 
By a huge boulder which had been dislodged 
From the rough mountain's craggy side, and 

caught 
Here on the path. 

All the united strength 
Of seven sturdy shoulders failed to move 
The great obstruction from its resting-place — 
Nor could they clamber 'round, or over it. 
It was so high and wide. What should they 

do? 
Could yonder path be gained best by the 

way 
That led across the mountain's rugged side ; 
Or by the other one down the ravine ? 
Some thought one way, and some the other 

chose. 
Until, to settle the dispute, James said : 
" 'Twas but a few rods back we passed a hut 



Io6 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU." 

Built on the mountain side. Now wait ys 

here, 
While I turn back and ask ; for surely, they — 
The inmates there — must know, and soon shall 
- we." 

But as he neared the house, he heard low 

groans 
And then the weak, despairing cry of one , 
Who seemed about to die for want of food. 
Forgetting his own errand then, he ran 
Back to his fellow-travellers in haste : 

" Methinks 'tis well we happened here to-day — 
If hap it be — . Here we may leave our meal, 
For in this hut is one who needs it sore — 
A woman, dying for the food that we 
Only this morning thought to throw away ! ** 

" 'Tis worth the heavy burden of the day 
And glad are we that God hath sent us gold. 
That now we may supply her pinching want," 
Said Andrew, as he took the oil and fish, 
And followed after James who bore the meal, 
While Peter hurried with an honeycomb, 
And John who carried only sympathy 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEEORE VOL/.'' 107 

Of heart, and gentle, willing hands, to make 
The simple preparation for her need. 
(And after all, the sympathy and help 
Were needed, even as the food had been.) 
The best of gifts material oft fail 
To touch the heart, and make us truly blest, 
Enriching giver and receiver too, 
Because they stand alone, accompanied 
By naught of love and tenderness and prayer. 
The truest gift, whate'er its cost in coin, 
Is that which represents the heart of him 
Who gives, as one of thoughtfulness and care 
For him to whom he doth the offering make. 
And so, this suffering woman, who but late 
Lay in despair, almost in doubt of God 
And of His loving care, relieved of want, 
Took heart again, and, even through her tears. 
Looked up to see the Giver of all Good 
Who had not failed her in her hour of need. 

Then, gladly showing them the path they 

sought. 
They parted company — she to rejoice 
Over a bounty to which her poor life 
Had long been stranger — they to wend their 

way 



io8 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

Not only with their burdens lightened now 
But with hght hearts as well ; with conscious- 
ness 
That they had exercised the frugal care 
That He — their Master — would approve — the 

same 
That He, Himself, would do had He been there 
To bear them company upon their way ! 

Oh, blessed thought ! With joy it filled their 

hearts 
And made the path seem easy to their feet, 
As with sweet converse now they hurried on, 
Catching new scenes of beauty on their way, 
As now the westering sun sent level beams 
Athwart the landscape, lighting up the sky 
With the rare colors only seen at eve. 

They came to Shechem as the shades of night 
Folded the earth within its soft embrace. 
Weary with travel then they sought an inn, 
And with the magic power of shining gold 
Obtained a resting-place until the morn. 

Then, early, ere the sun had kissed the hills, 
Or yet had waked the valleys from their rest. 



BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU: 



09 



Our travellers resumed their onward way, 
Refreshed by sleep, urged forward by the 

hope 
That ere the sun should set that night, they'd 

reach 
Fair Galilee — perhaps would meet their Lord 
Whom every hour of absence seemed to make 
More dear. They started with a quickened 

pace 
And as they walked, conversed with eager 

words 
Of Him they loved, and hoped through life to 

serve. 

The road led up toward Nain. Familiar scenes 

Were these, and as they passed village or hut, 

Or often only stream, or hillock low. 

Or winding by-path from some ancient town. 

They would recall a former day, ^ when they, 

With Jesus in their favored company, 

Had met a leper here who had been cleansed 

By word of power divine. There a lame man 

Had hobbled out to meet them, and had gone 

Back to his home erect and whole and strong. 

Here had He spoken words of living truth 

* Matt. iv. 23. 24 ; ix. 35, etc. 



no ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOW 

Unto a company who thronged His way ; 
'Twas near this town that a bhnd beggar sat 
And asked for bread from every passer-by, 
But Jesus gave him better than he sought: 
He gave him sight and bade him go, restored 
To bless the waiting world. Yonder a child 
Had been laid low by fever's smiting breath, 
Until she seemed to lie at Death's dark door, 
Simply to wait the summons to depart 
And leave disconsolate the saddened hearts, 
Whose life seemed bound in hers. But He 

had come. 
And placed His gentle hand upon her head, 
And the disease had left her, and she rose 
And followed Him. 

Sweet memories like these 
Thronged every mind ; and as they walked, 

they talked 
Of Him with eager hearts that glowed afresh. 
And the past stirred half-unsuspected hopes 
Of what the future still might hold for them 
When they should meet Him — they. His 

' chosen few — 
By His divine appointment by the sea. 
For how could they who knew not Jesus' words 
Of prophecy, save as fulfilment true 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr iii 

Revealed them to their darkened minds, yet 

not 
More dark, I ween, than yours or mine, had we 
Stood in their steads ; nor yet more dark than 

oft 
Our understandings are to-day, when God 
Sends to our hves some new strange plan of 

His 
Which we have not yet fathomed ; no, nor can 
Until He gives us grace to live it out. 
Solving the mystery day by day, with Him 
Close at our sides, to show us by results 
The meaning of the way that He has led. 
Way that we understood not ; not more dark. 
Perhaps, than yours or mine concerning things 
As yet involved in prophecy alone — 
Things that shall come to pass. — How could 

they 
Hope to unravel this strange mystery 
Which He Himself had placed before them 

now 
And know for what to hope, or what to fear 
Until His Spirit should be given to lead 
Then into truth of daily living? Till 
He should reveal to them things that till 

now 



112 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOW 

They could not bear, and would not under- 
stand ? * 
Till it, in part, at least, should come to pass? 

Thus, 
Engaged with memory and love and hope, 
The earliest morning hours sped on, and earth 
Emerged from the gray mists of dawn to meet 
The sun's fair flush of roseate hue, as feet 
Unwearied, bore them swiftly on toward Nain. 

Before the city quite was reached, they saw 
Far up the steep hillside, a flaming bush — 
A wild azalea tree in blossom full, 
Though all its neighbors in the country wide 
Bore still but tiny buds — or scarcely that 
If on the bleak slope of the mountain's face 
As this one stood, braving the wind and cold 
While little of the Spring-time's gentler grace 
Had reached its cragged home. 

They paused to gaze 
At sight so strange, and wonder " How ?" and 

''Why?" 
As if in human wisdom they could grasp 
All of the secrets of the Master's power, 
Until Nathanael, with his ardent love 

* John xvi. 12. 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU:' 113 

Of all things beautiful upon God's earth 
(Seeing in them the tender, loving thought 
Of Him who " gave us all things to enjoy " *), 
Declared that he must have a spray of these, 
The first sweet flowers of Spring. 

So, while the rest 
Waited upon the path below, he climbed 
The rugged mountain steep, until he stood 
(Though all unconscious) where his Lord had 

been, 
Led by the love of Beauty to the spot 
Where Beauty's first Creator oped the way. 

Then, as he gathered handfuls of the blooms, 

Admiring each, as if 'twere made for him 

And for no other eye, his guileless soul f 

Stirred with an artist's keen and pure delight, 

As well he marked the dainty tracery 

From Nature's faultless pencil, matching shade 

With shade, yet blending all in harmony 

Of color that as far outrivals art, 

As the strange mystery of living force 

In sap, and root, and leaf, and flower, out-ranks 

The dead materials that we gather up 

To make their imitation. 

* I Timothy vi. 17. * John i. 47- 

8 



114 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

With a touch 
Of reverence he held the blossoms close 
And murmured as he looked into each cup 
Yet heavy with the early morning dew : 
*' How God must love the Beautiful, to hide 
So much — so much within a flower's heart ! 
Lord, make me pure and beautiful within. 
That Thou, who lookest only on the heart, 
Rather than formal deeds, may own me, 
Thine ! " 

But as he stood intent, he heard a faint 
Low piteous bleat, as if a lamb 
Had strayed away from tender shepherd's care. 
He listened then, to catch the cry once more, 
And note the way from which it reached his 

ear. 
Then, led by sound, he clambered to the edge 
Of a deep, wild ravine, and looking o'er 
He saw a tiny lamb, alone and lost. 

'■'■ Poor little lamb ! " Unconsciously the words 
His Master spoke came to Nathanael's lips : 
'Tis thus, indeed we are to follow Him — 
Not to conform our acts to rigid laws, 



''BEHOLD HE GOETII BEEORE YOUr 115 

But to " be transformed ! " ^^ changed from grace 

to grace f 
Until with unveiled heart we will reflect % 
The character of Him whose life was love, 
Whose every thought was one of helpfulness, 
Whose heart was full of pity for the lost. 

Nathanael called to Peter, and the two 
Clambered among the rocks down to the cave 
Where it was caught, and, counting it a joy 
To rescue from its peril and its pain 
One of God's living creatures, as they turned, 
They carried it in gentle fashion down. 
Revolving in their hearts this problem old : 
What did God mean by sacrifice of blood? 
Why must a lamb be slain for human sin ? 
(For yet they knew not, understood not, how 
The '' Lamb of God " FulfiUer of all type 
Had at the last and " once for all " been slain 
That on Him might be laid the whole w^orld's 

sin.) 
Then they resumed their walk, now talking 

low 
About the words their ancient prophet spake : § 

* Rom. xii. 2. t John I 16. 

X Cor. hi. 18 ; Rev. Ver. § Isaiah hu. 



Ii6 '' BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

" All ye, like wandering sheep, have gone 

astray ; 
To his own way each one has turned, and now 
The Lord hath made the iniquity of all 
To meet on Him, who, when afflicted sore 
Oped not His mouth, but as a lamb was dumb. 
Before his shearers, so was even He." 

Had not this olden prophecy come true 
Before their very eyes ? Had not their Lord — 
( He whom the world called Jesus, Joseph's 

son," 
The lowly Carpenter of Nazareth, 
Or, dignified as best they could, when earth 
Alone supplied the knowledge scant. 
As Jewish Rabbi with a prophet's power f) — 
Been heralded by John as " Lamb of God 
Who takes away the sin of all the world ? " :j: 
Had they not seen Him stand with gentle mien 
Before His wild accusers, silent, dumb ? § 

And He had looked upon the multitude 

Who daily thronged His pathway, Has e passed 

Now up, now down, these hills and valleys fair, 

* John vi. 42. t John vi. 14 ; vii. 40. 

X John i. 29. § John xix. 9. 



''BEHOLD HE GO ETH BEFORE YOUr 117 

And with a sweet compassion in His eye 
While love and pity which no words can tell 
Gave sweetness to His tone, and thrilled their 

hearts 
With tenderness akin to that He felt, 
(Though scarcely yet they understood its 

depth). 
And said : '^ As sheep they lack a shepherd's 

care,^ 
Pray ye the Lord to send forth laborers." 
And forthwith called He them, and gave them 

power f 
To heal, and help, and minister, and teach 
Those who had wandered far from God's pure 

law. 
And lost their way in man's bewildering maze 
Of the hard letter which but kills the soul. 

And they remembered other words of His : 
'' The whole need not my care." % "I came to 

seek 
And save that which was lost." § What meant 

all this 
If He were not the very Christ of God } 

* Matt. ix. 36. t Matt. x. i. 

X Matt. ix. 12. § Matt, xviii, 11. 



ii8 '' BEHOLD HE GOETH BEEORE YOU." 

And then they walked awhile in silence on, 
With thoughtful heads bowed low, and rev'rent 

hearts, 
Remembering the wondrous life of Him 
Who spake as never man yet spake ; "^ who loved 
As only God could love \ — God who is Love, X 
Though they but dimly yet discerned this 

truth. 

Now Peter, in his strong and stalwart arms 
Carried the trembling lamb so safe and warm 
Next to his loyal heart, till it forgot 
Its wanderings and its loss ; and resting there, 
It seemed th' embodiment of trust and peace. 

Then once again the words of Jesus came 
Fresh to their minds : § ''I the Good Shepherd 

am, 
I know My sheep, and I lay down My life 
For them. No man can take it but I lay 
It down Myself. And now I have the power 
Both to lay down and to take up My life, 
That I may do my Father's holy will.' 
I call My sheep with voice that they all know 

* John vii. 46. t John xv. 13, comp. Rom. v. 78. 
X John iv. 8. § John x. 1-18. 



''B/if/OLD JJK GOKTII BEFORE YOUr 119 

And follow after mc to the great fold 

Where all shall be united in My love." 

Did not the words gleam forth with sudden 

light 
They had not guessed when first they heard 

them fall 
E'en from His lips upon their troubled hearts 
That day in winter ^ in the Temple porch 
When all around were those who hated Him, 
And called Him mad \ and asked : '^ Why hear 

ye Him ? -" 
And some would even stone Him for His 

words?:}: 

How long ago that seemed ! Then the thick 

clouds 
Of darkness and uncertainty shut out 
From their dim visions things they saw to-day ! 
But now they thought they understood it all ! 
And silently they conned its sweetness o'er. 
As they recalled their Master's gentle care, 
E'en as a tender shepherd bears his sheep 
In loving arms, protecting it from all 
From which its gentle nature would recoil, 
Leading it safely to the pastures green, 

*Johnx. 22. tVs. 20. tVs. 31. 



I20 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

Not leaving it content with lesser good — 
Or seeming good — upon the pathway there. 
How strange had been the leadings of their 

lives ! 
How kindly He had shielded them from ill ! 
What were the unguessed blessings yet to be ? 

And so they conned it o'er, yet knew they not 
That that same gentle, loving care had planned 
The very incidents which called their thoughts 
To Him that He might thus reveal His love 
More fully to their opening minds and hearts. 
Blessed are they who " follow on to know,"^ 
For 'tis in following His holy will 
That we may know more fully of His love — 
Love to the whole wide world — oh, wondrous 

thought ! 
But still more wondrous — love to humble ME ! 

Near Nain they found the shepherd from whose 

fold 
The little lamb had strayed ; and joy once more 
Was left behind them, greater for the joy 
They carried on in consciousness of right 
Done for the Master's sake and in His name. 

* Hosea vi. 3, 



'• BKIIOLD HE G0E7H BEFORE YOUr 121 

Soon they drew near to Cana, and they turned 
Off from the road — the highway to the sea — 
To cHmb a gently sloping hill, which stood 
Near to the city. As they reached the brow 
They paused a moment to survey the scene, 
Rich in its varied beauty, and yet fresh 
From the night-dews still sparkling in the sun 
Not yet ascended high. 

As thus they stood, 
A column of black smoke was seen to rise, 
Dense and forbidding, from a cottage yard 
Near them, below ; and cries of sore distress 
Broke of a sudden on their listening ears. 

'' They may have need of help that we can 

give," 
They said in haste, and quickly sought the way 
Down to the humble home from whence the 

signs 
Of sorrow came. '' Were Jesus here, we know 
Such cries to reach His heart, need but to 

reach 
His gracious ear, and of the things He taught 
Unto His followers, none were more blessed 

than this : 
That we should do to others as we would 



122 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOW 

That they should do to us,^^ were we the ones 
In need of friendly aid — do and hope not 
That aught shall be returned to us again." 

'Twas a strange sight they saw as they ap- 
proached ; 
And stranger yet the tale of woe they heard ; 
Husband and wife were there, bewailing fate 
Because their one last sheep — the only thing 
That stood between them and starvation's 

pain — 
Had now been killed, and dressed, and put to 

boil 
In pot in which, by some mysterious means, 
A small round hole, straight through its iron 

side, 
With clean incision had been made since last 
It had been used. And through that to the 

fire 
Had run the fat, which flaming, up had burned 
Not only what had found escape, but all 
Within the pot — and so it all was lost ! 
And they who prayed, and trusted in their 

God 
Believing that to them was promise given 

* Matt. vii. 12. t Luke vi. 35. 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 123 

" Bread shall be found thee, and thy water 

sure,"'^' 
Now sat beside the ashes, blackening fast 
O'er all the little store they'd called their own ! 

It seemed a sorry plight, and words were cold 
To comfort them in time of such distress ; 
And even gold, with all its magic power 
Could give relief but for a few short days. 
Yet the disciples were most glad that still 
Within their script they found some yellow coin, 
And freely gave they full the worth of all 
That had been lost ; and spoke in cheerful words 
Of trust in God who loves, and still doth care 
For every creature He hath made on earth: 
And from their own experience they told 
How oft the darkest hour precedes the light. 

But as they turned to go, 'twas with a sense 
Of pain that wheresoever sin had been. 
There followed want and woe and misery — 
Not special pain for special sin.f Their Lord 
Had taught them not to judge this true, 

though held 
By many of their wisest councillors — 

* Isaiah xxxiii. 16. t John ix. 23. 



124 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

But the great blot of sin upon the race, 
Whose wages * — Death — are ever being paid 
In some degree to all beneath its ban. 

But as they reached the gate, and would have 

passed, 
Some object of familiar grace was seen 
Which stirred their tardy memories to recall 
A time three years agone, when, on a day 
Far happier than this, they visited 
The town of Cana — yea, this very house 
In company with Jesus — came as guests 
Unto the marriage-feast of this same pair, 
Whom now they saw so desolate and poor. 
'Twas at that feast that first of all was shown 
The Master's glory, f and the timid hearts 
Of those who late had heard His gracious call, 
And had left all to follow after Him, 
Had been assured that He was come from 

God. 
'Twas strange they had forgotten ! Stranger 

still. 
It seemed to them, that this young, happy 

pair 

t Rom. vi. 23. * John ii. 11, 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU: 



125 



Upon whose early wedded life He smiled, 
And by His presence hallowed the sweet scene 
Which made another home on earth, should 

now 
Be found in such sad plight ! Yet, questioning 

not 
God's sovereign right to lead as He sees best, 
They turned them back again, and by the 

bond 
Of Jesus' friendship for them both, renewed 
The old acquaintance, and fresh interest took 
Each in the other's plans. 

Much was to ask 
Concerning Jesus — much to tell of Him. 
Had the strange rumors which had reached 

their ears, 
About His death as malefactor bold. 
Been false, or true ? And what could mean 

the tale 
About His Spirit (or some said Himself), 
Having been seen of men, and talked with 

them ? 

Then Love and Hope lent swiftness to their 

tongues 
As eagerly they told the story o'er — 



126 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU:' 

Though interrupted oft — now with a thought 

Of indignation 'gainst His enemies — 

Now as some fuller light showed them the 

truth 
They had not grasped before ; — and now to 

urge 
No more delay upon their journey's course. 

But ere they said farewell, this much was 

planned : 
Peter stilled owned the fishing-boats and nets 
Upon the Sea of Galilee, and still 
The eager, hungry world was glad to pay 
Its shining gold for treasures of the deep ; 
And so, before the coin already given 
Should be exhausted for their meagre wants, 
The little family should move their home 
Down to Capernaum, and in employ 
Of Peter's fishery, there was no need 
To dread the future. 

So their trials sore 
Became the pathway to a greater good, 
And they took courage in their God again, 
While the disciples started on their way. 
Discoursing of the providence that led 
To this most timely meeting, and the joy 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEEORE YOUr 127 

'Twould be to Jesus when they told Him all. 
Ay, greater joy than they could guess, since 

He 
Had planned this meeting for their helpful- 



Near Nazareth once more they slacked their 

pace : 
" Let us how go up to his Home again — 
His home and Mary's. When we see her next 
She will be glad to know we thought of Him 
And it ; and she will wish to learn how now 
The old place looks ; and even He, perhaps, 
Will care to find we sought it for His sake," 
Said Peter as he led the way. 

And John 
Made answer thoughtfully, " Yes, let us go. 
For we remember how He notice took 
Of e'en the smallest thing that showed forth 

LOVE. 
And how — we see it now as we did not 
Before — His gentle spirit was most pained 
By our indifference and want of thought." 

But e'er they came in sight of it, they saw 
Great flocks of doves flying about their heads, 



I2S ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEEORE YOUr 

Coming from all directions, speeding straight 
Toward the old home they sought, until the 

sky 
Seemed darkened, and the soft whirr of wings 
Fell on their ears with a strange solemn sound. 

Nearer approached, they found a multitude 
Had gathered 'round the house, and in hushed 

awe, 
With voices low, they talked of this new 

thing 
Which now had come to pass : How e'en the 

birds 
Acknowledged Him whom they had long ago 
Rejected, driven from their midst, refused 
To hear, or own, even despised the good 
Of earthly benefits He would have brought ! 
And now that He had been rejected, too, 
By all the world — had even suffered death 
As if His were a malefactor's heart. 
And His pure, noble deeds (dimly they saw 
It now) were magic of a conjurer 
Used for self-exaltation, and His words 
Of high and holy doctrine but the vain 
Babble of a mind diseased, claiming undue 
And dangerous power, making Himself a King. 



'' BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 129 

Yea, more — the very Son of God Most High — 
Now that 'twas said, despite the Roman seal 
And nightly guard, that He had risen again 
And had been seen by many witnesses, 
(Though many yet believed it not, but said 
His body had been stolen while they slept — 
Ah, Hate ! How credulous thou art ! How 

blind 
To clearest evidence of noon-day truth !) 
And thus had proved His claim and kept His 

word — 
Now that all this had come to pass, the birds 
Of heaven had come, and by mysterious power 
Had opened for themselves a passage-way 
Into the granary which He had built. 
When, as a Carpenter, He, lowly, dwelt 
With them in Nazareth — among His own. 
And yet unknown, unrecognized, as Son 
Of God. Surely 'twas omen sent from heaven. 

For in their old traditions it was said 
That thus God indicated where He willed 
A synagogue to be ! And so they cried : 
" Let us arise and build ! The doves have 

come 
And added this new evidence to all 

9 



130 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

The strange, unheard of signs that do show 

forth 
In Him who claimed to be the Son of God ! 
Thus hath He set His seal upon the truth ! 
Thus hath He sent the birds of Heaven to us 
To bid us haste and build a synagogue 
Here on the spot where as a Man He wrought 
So like toother men we knew Him not ! 
Thus will we honor Him whom e'en the birds 
Own as their Lord ! They are His Mes- 
sengers ! " 

For such was then, and such is now, the power 
Of superstition that the very minds 
Which are the quickest to reject the truth, 
Though shown by clearest evidence as such, 
Are quickest also to believe a farce 
Of silliest fabric, in which neither sense 
Nor reason have the slightest part. So now 
They who rejected Christ, the Son of God, 
Calling Him Joseph's son, the Carpenter, 
Their townsman whom they knew ''^ — (why 

honor him ?) 
Driving Him forth with words of cruel hate, 
Blocking His power by their unbelief, 

* Luke iv. 22, 29. Mark vi. 23. 



''BE /J OLD HE GOEril BEEORE YOUr 131 

Rejoicing" in His downfall, now beheld 

In doves who sought but food (prepared for 
them, 

Although they knew it not, by Christ Him- 
self), 

A messenger from God, bidding them build 

A synagogue in honor of the One 

Whom they had helped to slay I They were 
'' His ow^n " ^ 

In closer sense than Jew\s at large were held, 

And yet His very own ^' received Him not ! " 

Alas ! that histor)/ doth repeat itself 

In such sad constant strain ! Alas that we, 

Blind to the Way, the Truth, the Life, which 

God 
In full sweet measure grants to us to-day. 
Slight the best gifts He would bestow, had we 
But faith to take them, following on to know 
The possibilities He would reveal — 
Perhaps through trials sore, and bitter loss. 
But certainly to an eternal gain 
And " weight of glory " which our earthly 

sense 
Can never estimate, or even guess 

* John i. II, 



132 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEEORE YOUr 

In wildest fancy of our wildest dream ; 
And, then, when, opportunity withdrawn. 
We look upon " what might have been," and 

sigh. 
And turn away, refusing yet, perhaps. 
The deepest lesson and the highest good. 
We think to rectify the past by deeds 
Of formal honor seen and known of men. 

Or, more apparent — since we oftener see 
The surface facts of lives, than prove the depths 
E'en of our own — Alas ! that we so oft 
Slight and neglect a friend, until, too late. 
We call to mind the sweetness and the love 
That might have 'riched our lives while blessing 

theirs, 
And then, with tears, we bend above a face 
While with the shadow of the mystery 
Of death upon it — (mystery now solved 
By the still sleeping one who needs no joy, 
And heeds no sorrow of this narrow life 
Left for the wider one above our ken) — 
And bring sweet flowers to put in his cold 

hand. 
And speak kind words in gentle tones and low, 
And raise a monument of grief for him — 



BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 



^Zl 



And then pass on to treat some other friend 
The self-same way ! Ah, me ! that this is true, 
Alas, too often in your life and mine ! 

But God, who makes the wrath of man to bless 
His name, oft takes our failures, and the deeds 
That we in weakness do for Him (yet mar 
In very doing, since we know not how 
To do aright), and from them brings forth praise 
Unto Himself ! 

So now, the synagogue 
Built from a superstitious awe, by those 
Who loved not Christ in life, became the 

shield 
And refuge in the years to come, of those 
Who with mistaken zeal, it may have been, 
(Though better that than with no zeal at all, 
Better a blundering, inconsistent love 
Than criticising, cold indifference), 
Sought in the crusades to redeem the land, 
Made holy in their eyes by Jesus' life. 
From power of infidels who knew Him not. 

'Tis true, the kingdom of our Master, Christ, 

Is not dependent upon holy place, 

But those who worship Him must honor give 



134 



BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOW 



In Spirit and in truth where'er they be."^ 

But much that we of years mature think 

plain 
And easy in its simple truthfulness, 
Seems dark, and difficult to comprehend 
By little children who have just begun 
To learn the alphabet of wisdom's love : 
But do we blame them that their waking 

minds 
Grasp not within a single hour the things 
It took us years of toil and growth to learn ? 

And so, I think, it was in early years 

Of this great Kingdom of our Lord, the 

Christ ; 
So is it still, sometimes, with those who stand 
As children in the Kingdom (though mayhap 
They count full many years), knowing not 

yet 
The strength of manhood and of womanhood 
In Christ ; whose growth in grace, fettered by 

fears 
And ignorance — fears because ignorant, 
And ignorant because of binding fears — 
Is not the strong, full, free and happy growth 

* John iv. 24. 



BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU: 



135 



That God designed. Not yet have they 

attained 
That knowledge of the Truth that sets men 

free 
From place, and form, and creed, and ritual 
And centres all on Christ, the Holy One, 
The Son of God, who bids the humblest come 
To Him and rest. But shall we chide e'en 

these ? 
Shall we not rather show them by our lives 
And by our words the way more excellent ? 

Toward the Arbella Valley now they turned — 
Those men who followed Christ along the way, 
Though knowing not that He had gone be- 
fore — 
And soon they came to sight so strange and 

new 
That all stopped in amaze to view it o'er ; 
For in the centre of the beaten path 
There was a sturdy bush, firm as if years 
Of growth had fixed it there. Yet they had 

passed 
This way before, and many times had trod 
This well-worn road, till now obstructionless, 
And there, beside the way, was the loose earth 



136 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOW 

Upturned but freshly from its rocky mould, 
Thus showing clearly where the shrub had 



They walked around it, noting the firm earth 
And smooth unbroken surface 'round its stem, 
And as they looked they questioned each of 

each : 
*' What could it mean ? " *' How came it 

there?" and '^ Why ? " 

One thought it set to mark some danger new 
Down on the Valley Road — perhaps a rock 
From some o'erhanging cliff had blocked the 

way, 
Or storm had washed away the old, safe track. 

Another thought not so — 'twas but the play 
Of idle children, and it nothing meant — 
Or nothing that effected them to know. 
Another said 'twas '' strange," '' mysterious," 
A '' scientific wonder," — nothing more. 

And some among their number scarcely gave 
A moment's heed, but would have hasted on, 
Intently thinking of their journey's end, 
As if the eTid\YQYQ ally the way were naught , 



"PEHor.n riF goeth before you: 137 

As if the message had not said '' BcJiold, 

He gocth tip before thee to the Sea."'^ 

But only, " Go, and He will meet thee there ! " 

As if the Lord had not prepared each step 

Of all the journey to the very end, 

Preventing f with His love (love infinite, 

And matched with power whose bound is 

never reached) 
Each little turn that comes to us as new ; 
Untried and strange, we think, because we 

know 
Not of the love which has already proved 
Its wisdom, planning for our following. 
Ah me ! How many a blessing thus we miss ; 
Forgetting the sweet mission of the zvaj^ 
Forgetting 'tis the path f and not the efid 
Of righteousness that brighter grows, till lost 
In day whose perfectness we cannot guess. 

And so, alas ! it is transgression's zcay § 
Is hard, though filled with promises of joy. 
The promised end of Life or Death is not 
Reward or punishment, dealt out by Fate : 

* Mark xvi. 28 ; xiv. 7. 

t Psa. xxi. 3. The former, and correct, use of this word is gained from 
its derivation. /'re "before," and venire "to go;" literally "going 
before." 

X Prov. iv. 18. § Prov. xm. 15 ; iv. 19. 



138 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

'Tis the result of ways that we have trod 
With consciousness and choice dehberate, 
Leading to one or to the other's gate. 

We hve our hves by days, and each one brings 
Its duties, and its warnings, and its rest, 
Prepared by Love. How shall we honor Him, 
And honor life itself, and find the best 
That He has planned for us in it and Him, 
If we neglect its duties, and refuse 
To heed its warnings turning us from wrong, 
Or from a path of danger that we know 
Not of ourselves ; or if we miss the rest 
And sweet refreshment He would gladly give, 
Preserving all our powers for future work 
That He will yet reveal to those who love 
And wait upon Him with true loyal hearts? 

Is now thy way obstructed in the path 
That thou wouldst choose for thine own walk- 
ing in ? 
It may be that the Christ's own loving hand 
Has placed that barrier there ! Ah, then, fret 

not, 
Nor sigh at Fate ; nor seek in Nature's realm 
An explanation that she cannot give ; 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU." 139 

Nor with indifferent heedlessness pass on. 
As if thou couldst thyself mark out thy way ! 
But with obedient grace, see in each step 
Thy Master's leading for thy following. 
Ask Him for light, and He will grant thy 

prayer. 
He will direct thee, leading by the hand 
Down to life's very close, and even then 
Walk with thee through the vale of shadows 

dark. 
Into the sunny presence of thy Lord. 
There is no cause to fear what Death can do. 
'Tis but his " shadow " ^ that can fall on thee, 
Since Christ hath borne the penalty alone. 
And we who but believe have passed from 

death f 
To life in Him who triumphed o'er the grave. 

But, to return to the disciples now : 
Brave Peter said : 

'' Where others dare to go, 
Dare I. This is the path we used to take 
When Jesus was among us; why not now.^^ 
'Twill lead us nearest to Capernaum, 
Where, no doubt, friends will be to welcome us. 

* Psa. xxiii. 4. t Rom. viii. i.. a. 



I40 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOW 

And entertain us through the approaching 

night, 
Then, on the morrow, we will seek for Him. 
Though where I wot not now ; for He but said : 
* In Galilee.' But surely it will be 
Near to the city of His later home 
That we shall find Him. Come. I know not 

how 
This strange thing came to pass ; but it shall 

not 
Hinder my way, nor make me change my 

course. 
Do as you please — I take the beaten track ! " 

Nay, not so fast, my brother ! " Andrew said, 
'Tis utter folly to be over-wise. 
That none can teach thee what thou knowest 

not. 
Discretion is of bravery the part 
Which wins the greater honor. Be not rash 
In headlong purposes to carry out 
Thine own designs. Listen to reason now : 
Why this strong tree is here in place so 

strange 
I know not ; but if set for a defence, 
Why not now turn aside, and take the path 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 141 

Across this hill ? 'Tis quite as near the sea. 
The gain is on our side by making sure 
Of a safe way — and if there be a loss 
'Twill not be ours if we the warning heed." 

"Yes," Matthew said, ''where there is doubt, 

I think 
The Master would advise the path that leads 
Straightest from danger, nearest to the goal. 
For while in all His life He never turned 
Aside from duty's call, He was not rash 
To encounter needless danger anywhere, 
And even taught us how we ought to pray,* 
' Into temptation lead us not, O Lord, 
And from the evil one deliver us.' " 

Then John, the well-beloved, took up the 

strain : 
'' Matthew and Andrew both are right," he said ; 
*' I think it is the Master's will that we 
Should take the safest path down to the sea, 
Unless in doing so we shirk some task 
Of helpfulness, or deed of tender love 
Such as He found, and bids us still to find 
On every hand : for life is full of pain 

* Matt. vi. 13. 



142 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

Which we may ease. But here I see not such ; 
I think that we should take the path, un- 
blocked, 
Across the mountain road — 'Tis just beyond 
Its eastern slope that lies the dear old sea." 

And so they all agreed, and turning, left 
(Although they knew it not) the path which 

led 
Down where a band of robbers were concealed 
Among the rocks and caves, waiting their 

prey- 
Turned from their danger by the unseen 

Christ, 
Who had gone on before o'er all the way. 
Nor once forgot the wants of those He loved, 
Who would come after Him up to the sea. 

Just as the setting sun in radiance threw 
Its splendor o'er the land, the shore, the lake, 
Touching with flashing gold each quiet scene 
Rich with the memories of Him they loved, 
(Yet guessed not half His love and care for 

them). 
They stood — those seven men — upon the hill 
Where He, the Christ, had stood at early dawn 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 143 

Of yestermorn. Each with his different 

thought, 
Born of his different nature, wisdom, mood, 
Yet centred all in common love for Him 
Who first had taught them how to truly love — 
Him who had shown to them the Father's 

heart ; 
Who was Himself God's Word of Love to 

man — 
Heaven's thought translated to the human 

tongue — 
Though not yet understood, even by those 
Who knew Him, loved Him, served Him, truest, 

best. 

So for a little space they silent stood. 
Viewing the old familiar scenes ; for words 
But ill-befitted time and place like this. 
Indeed what words could tell the memories 
Which clustered now around each sacred spot, 
Where He had been, revealing grace and truth * 
And mercy from His Father, God, to man. 
Who all had sinned, and come far short — so 

far !-- 
Of what God meant him to be — perfect, pure — 

* John i. 14. 



144 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE VOH." 

Like unto God Himself — Thus was he made : 
" After our hkeness ? " ^ 

Or what words could speak 
Half of the fear and pain and hopelessness 
That had been crowded in the days since He 
Had walked with them by that same sea ? 

How dark 
The cloud had been ! How ached their hearts 

e'en yet 
As they recalled those days of suffering ! 
And now, what words in all the world can tell 
One-half their hopes — of what, they scarcely 

knew, 
But something high, and great, and good, and 

true 
For Israel, the nation of God's choice. 

Ah, there were times when it were mockery 
To speak the choicest words ! When heart 

communes 
With heart, not in the language of the earth. 
But with a subtler, sweeter, nobler sense. 
Heaven-born, and sacred unto those we love. 
Or, higher yet, when heart of man communes 
With God, Author, Embodiment of Love. 

* Gen. i. 26. 



'^ BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE VOl/." 145 

Yet speaks no word with faltering human lips, 
Though understanding more than words could 
say. 

Slowly the radiant, westering sunlight died, 
Slowly the colors — amber, crimson, gold, 
Deepened to purple dark, and sombre gray 
Along the broken line of mountain tops, 
And left the limpid sea in twilight shade, 
As, weary with the long day's journeying 
'Mid heat and dust, they— the disciples— now 
Approached the shore and watched the restless 

waves. 
Whose merry dance seemed welcoming them 

home, 
And listened to the ripples whose glad voice 
Made softest music to their olden friends, 
The fishermen of sunny Galilee. 

Upon the shore, drawn up beyond the waves, 
There was a fisher's boat, and four strong oars 
Rested beside it, while upon the grass 
Back from the beach a net was spread to dry, 
Though all now seemed deserted. 

A quick glance 
Along the shore revealed these to their gaze, 
10 



146 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU:' 

And then 'twas Peter who the silence broke : 
" I go a fishing.^ Come, here is a boat 
All ready to our hands. And here a net 
That we may surely take. We know not where 
To seek the Master now\ Let us this night 
Be fishermen again upon the sea. 
To-morrow we will seek to find the Christ." 

There was dissent from some at first, for all 
Had not been trained to brave, and even love 
The long night-watch upon the sea; but soon 
They all agreed, and, following Peter's lead 
They presently embarked, and pushed the boat 
From shore, out to the places where they oft 
Had found fish in abundance, and had felt 
In taking them the fisherman's true joy. 

But through the hours of weary night they 

toiled 
In vain.f The arts of fishery seemed lost, 
And all their patient labor brought them 

nought 
Save weariness and disappointed hopes. 
Again they thought of other days, when He, 
Their Master— was with them in calm or storm, 

* John xxi. 3- t John xxi. 3 



''BEHOLD HE GOETIf BEFORE YOU." 147 

And desolate aloneness seized them now, 
Made more apparent by their former joy. 

Perhaps as Peter rested on his oar, 
Disheartened by their ill-success, he thought 
Of how the Lord had said : '^ " Ye will I make 
Fishers of men." And, in his blindness then 
And want of knowledge of the Master's plan, 
And sadness in the failure of his own. 
Was ready to exclaim : " 'Twas a mistake — 
Those words that Jesus spake : ' Fishers of 

men ? ' 
This night has proved that it can never be. 
Though scarcely yet I know what He did 

mean." 

Perhaps the loving John sighed for the day 
When he had lent their boat unto the Lord ; f 
And though his heart still whispered of sweet 

joy 
That yet should come to them, recalled the 

past 
With thankfulness that was akin to pain. 
Perhaps the doubting :j; heart of Thomas then 
(Though brave he was, for we must not forget 

* Matt. iv. 19, t Mark iv. :. % John xx. 25. 



148 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU:' 

'Twas he who said : " Lord, if thou goest now 
Straight to thy death at hands of Jewish hate, 
We will go with Thee and will share Thy 

lot.")^ 
Fought out in that still darkness once again 
The olden conflict between Love and Fear — 
And Love now won the victor's glorious palm. 

Perhaps — aye, surely — as the hours dragged on, 
They asked : '' Why did the Son of Man choose 

lis 
To be His followers? Why show to ns 
His power and mercy, all His tender love, 
While many know them not, or but to fear. 
Or mock, not to obey ? And why, indeed, 
Show them to any one, if He would leave 
Us now ? Where shall we meet Him ? Where 

and when 
Will He reveal Himself to us, and show 
His gracious purpose to redeem our land ? " 

Sadly and wearily, as dawned the day. 

They rowed toward shore ; when, on the beach 

they saw 
A strangert — walking now, or pausing oft 

* John xi. 8, 16. t John xxi. 4. 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUy 149 

To watch their movements as they nearer came, 
Guiding their boat around tlie well-known 

shoals 
Of shallow water. Presently He spoke, 
Addressing them : 

" CJiildrcii ! " He said, in voice 
So clear and bell-like that it carried far 
Across the waves through the sweet morning 

air, 
" Have yc any meat f " '^ 

And they answered, " No ! " 
Though with a sense of shame at the one word 
Which told their failure through the weary 

hours. 
And then He called to them again: 

'' Cast 1107 V 
Thy net upon the right side of the ship 
fust zvhere ye are,'' M.Q. sddd. "■ There shall ye 

find! "f 

*' Perhaps He sees them in the morning light," 
Was now their thought, as they prepared to 

cast 
Their net again, as He had bidden them. 

* John xxi 5. t John xxi. 6. 



50 



BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOW 



But when they would have drawn it to them- 
selves, 
They were not able for the multitude 
Of finny treasure which it now enclosed ! 

'Twas then that John, disciple best beloved 
By Christ, since in his humble heart was 

found 
Those qualities of manhood likest God, 
Responsive to the perfect life of Him 
Who was God's Image (such the Son had said 
He would draw unto Him from all the earth).'^ 
Disciple who most loved, and who had learned 
Much of life's myst'ry through Love's magic 

power. 
With heart and mind attent to know his Lord, 
Had from the first surveyed the Stranger there 
With growing interest in his face ; and now 
He leaned towards Peter, and in whispered 

tones 
Eager yet reverent, and full of joy, 
Part questioning, but more asserting truth : 
*' Look thou ! It is the Lord^onr Master — He 
Whom ive have come to meet, yet hieiv Him 

not f " 

* John xii. 3a. 



^'BEHOLD HE GOETIi BEEORE YOUr 151 

Then Peter, all his ardent heart aglow 

With Love's quick impulse toward the one 

beloved, 
Forgetting net and boat, forgetting too 
The helpfulness due from his arm of strength 
Unto his comrades now, hastily girt 
His fisher's coat about him, as he leaped 
Into the shallow water of the sea, 
And hurried to the shore where Jesus stood. 

But Christ is honored more by deeds of love 
And thoughtfulness from man to fellow-man, 
Than by the loftiest forms of praise to Him, 
With these neglected. So He bade him turn 
And help his brethren bring the net to land. 

Would'st worship God ? Then serve they 

neighbor well ! 
Who is thy neighbor? He who needs thy 

help. 
Wherever on God's footstool he may dwell ! 

'Twas then they saw a fire of coals, and fish 
Made ready for a morning meal, and bread; 
'' Bring of thy fish;' He said. 



152 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOU." 



And they obeyed. 
And then the gracious invitation gave 
Unto them all. " Come yc and dine witJi nie'' 
And no man dared to ask Him '' WHO ART 

THOU r 

For in their hearts they knew He was tJie 

Lordr 
Who can describe that simple meal? And 

who 
Can tell the joys which the disciples felt 
As in this pledge of trusted fellowship 
They saw again their Master's mindfulness, 
As in the days of yore, of human wants — 
Ay, more than that — they saw His latest 

gift- 
Memorial of a love that did not fail 
E'en when the shadow of the cross lay dark 
Athwart His path, as when He first took bread 
And blessing, brake, and gave to them, and 

said : 
" Eat this, and think of Me ; for thus I give 
My body for yo2i7' sakes ; believe ye this /" 
And now they learned from His own sacred lips 
The story of the way o'er which He came 

* John xxi. 12. 



''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 153 

Before them, planning and preparing it ; 
And then He asked of each detail, and how 
They had fulfilled His plan, praising them oft. 
And sometimes warning them, as now He 

showed 
The lessons of the way, and taught to them 
The meaning of the things they had not known 
Until revealed in light of His dear love. 

The Legend has been told. What teaches it 
Unto our hearts ? Is't not the same old truth 
That David sung when God had led him forth 
To victory, and to a kingly crown ? 
'' The king, O Lord, shall joy but in Thy 

strength, 
For Thou hast given him his heart's desire ; 
Thou goest forth before him all the day 
With blessings of Thy goodness ; giving more 
Than he had asked, because he trusted Thee." "^ 

So doth He go before us on the way. 

And twill be sweet, I think, when you and I 

Have travelled all the path Love planned for 

us, 
To meet the Christ upon th' eternal shore, 

* Ps. xxi. 



154 ''BEHOLD HE GOETH BEFORE YOUr 

And sup with Him in feast He will prepare 
For those who follow Him, and do His will 
With an unquestioning faith. 

Then shall we learn 
With an intensity of knowledge, now 
Withheld even from faithful loving hearts, 
How He, our Saviour, Master, Friend Divine, 
Has gone before us in each little step. 
Preparing all the way for us to come, 
Showing His love and care as well in that 
Which seemed disaster and misfortune sad 
(Seemed only, since we knew not all His plan), 
As that which brought us gay and pleasant 

smiles, 
And happy laughter in the w^ay we trod. 
Then in His sacred presence, we shall learn 
The holy lessons which our hearts are dull 
To catch from Providence. Then shall we see. 
By Heaven's light illumined, what seemed dark 
Upon the lonely way. Then shall we rest 
From each perplexing doubt or sudden fear 
Which now, unbidden, thrusts its questionings 
For a brief space into our trembling hearts. 
Then shall we thank Him, as we cannot now, 
For all His tender love and watchful care 
Which trod each step before us, knowing all 



''BEHOLD HE GOETII BEFORE YOUr 155 

And knowing us as even we know not 
Ourselves. Then shall we find God's ways are 

right ; 
Then shall we bless His name for evermore. 



THE END. 



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